What To Look For In A Blood Pressure Monitor For Use At Home

Devices for measuring blood pressure are generally referred to as blood pressure monitors, but this term is used to describe a whole range of different instruments. These include the small battery operated models for use in the home to the large and complex machines used in hospitals. Since it is not possible to cover all monitor types in one short article, I will restrict the scope of my blood pressure monitor review to models designed for use by individuals at home.

The blood pressure reading for a healthy person is 120 over 80, but when a level of 140/90 or higher is recorded this indicates a condition called high blood pressure or hypertension. This condition should not be left untreated because it can lead to a stroke or heart attack. Because there are no obvious symptoms when a person has high blood pressure it is advisable to have regular checks.

Measuring blood pressure is a simple procedure that can be carried out by your doctor or nurse, but if you have your own blood pressure monitor you will be able to make the check at home and save yourself the effort of a visit to the clinic. There have been concerns that wrist cuff monitors may not give an accurate reading, but this can be resolved by calibrating your machine against one used by your doctor.

While the old fashioned anaeroid monitor used a bulb pump and mechanical dial, all wrist monitors show the results on a digital display. Instead of the bulb battery power is used to inflate the cuff. In this review I will discuss wrist monitors from three manufacturers, Wristech, Braun and Lumiscope.

The basic features are the same on all the models reviewed. These are automatic inflation of the wrist cuff, the results shown on a digital display panel and a memory chip to store the results for a period usually for at least two months. On top of the basic features you will find models to suit all tastes including a talking blood pressure monitor. Prices vary according to the additional features included, although you can find a machine that is both efficient and reliable without having to pay top dollar.

Now to look at individual models – the Omron HEM-650 Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor with APS. The particular features of this model are Omron’s patented IntelliSense technology, which inflates the wrist cuff to the ideal level for each user and advanced positioning sensor that automatically checks that the cuff is level with the user’s heart to ensure an accurate reading. Includes 90 memory with time and date. The HoMedics BPW-200 TheraP Automatic Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor. Smart Sense technology detects pulse signals while adjusting the cuff pressure to ensure accurate readings. Includes 120 memory for up to two individuals. The Lumiscope 1143 Automatic Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor. This model has a large LCD display and an 85 memory recall. There is also and auto shut off to save the batteries.

Although this review has only covered a small selection of blood pressure monitors that are on the market, hopefully this will have been a good introduction to the subject and will prove useful as a starting point for further research if you decide to purchase a machine. 

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