Did you know that regularly checking your blood pressure at home makes you more likely to achieve your target blood pressure? Studies also show that taking your blood pressure at home is often more accurate since it eliminates “white coat hypertension” or inflated readings due to the stress of being in a medical environment.

Home blood pressure monitors vary in size and functionality, some requiring the use of a cuff around your upper arm and some taking a reading from your finger or wrist. Most monitors come with a digital display that’s easy to read, and some even have spoken results in multiple languages for the visually impaired.

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Tips for Buying a Blood Pressure Monitor

To choose the right monitor for you, keep in mind the following features beyond price:

1. Where on your body you place the blood pressure monitor. Finger and wrist units are rapidly growing in popularity since they’re easier to use and more convenient than an upper arm cuff. However, some doctors caution they’re not as accurate as upper arm versions. You can test how accurate your blood pressure monitor is by taking it to your next doctor’s appointment and comparing your results.
2. Ease of use. Simple blood pressure monitors boast easy one-button operation. Choose one that has features you’ll actually use, not unnecessary bells and whistles.
3. Amount of blood pressure data. Make sure your blood pressure monitor clearly reports your systolic and diastolic readings as well as your pulse rate. Many also offer irregular heart beat detection and so-called averaging functions that help you get a feel for how you’re doing over time.
4. Memory function. Many blood pressure monitors allow you to save results by date and time, some for more than one user. The more advanced monitors come with a USB cable and software for connecting to your computer, so you can easily chart your measurements and share them with your doctor.
5. Power source. Most blood pressure monitors use AA or AAA batteries, and some include an AC adapter as well. Look for features such as auto power off (to save battery life) and low battery indicator. Note that some blood pressure monitors come with batteries already installed and some require purchasing them.

For upper arm blood pressure monitors only:

1. Automatic vs. semi-automatic inflation. Auto-inflated blood pressure monitors are the most popular because they combine convenience with accuracy. There are also “semi-automatic” models, but due to potential inconsistencies of inflating the cuff yourself, the results may be less reliable.
2. Arm cuffs. You’ll need to measure the circumference of your arm to make sure you get the right size arm cuff. Some models include one or more adjustable cuffs to fit a range of people. To help you position it correctly, look for arm cuffs that include an artery marker.

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