Your heart is one of the most vital organs in your body. It works ceaselessly to supply oxygenated blood to every cell in your body, from your head to your toes. The measure of how your heart pumps is your blood pressure.

One of the most critical measures you can use to determine your level of overall health and fitness is your blood pressure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released the rather alarming statistic that approximately one out of every three Americans suffers from high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Furthermore, another one out of three Americans suffer from prehypertension, that is, blood pressure that may be higher than normal but which is not quite high enough to be classified as high.

Suffering from hypertension puts a great amount of strain on your body, because it forces your heart to work harder than it should. Hypertension is oftentimes known colloquially and among health professionals as a silent killer because it frequently shows no obvious or clear symptoms but is incredibly dangerous and detrimental to your overall health, well-being, and longevity.

Hence, it is incredibly valuable and vital for you to be able to measure your blood pressure even when you are not sitting in a doctor’s office. Buying a blood pressure monitor (BPM) that can be used by you whether you are at home or on the go is a valuable investment in your future, in your well-being, longevity, and quality of life.

The vast technological advances we have made in wearable technology, health monitoring apps, and mobile smart devices signals that we are entering into a golden age of health care monitors made for home use, a category known as consumer health technology.

But the vast number of home BPMs on the market, many of them of dubious quality, may give you pause. After all, there are even some apps for your smartphone that claim to measure your blood pressure through something called pulse wave velocity, which essentially claims to measure the wave form in the artery of your finger. However, such technology has not been proven to be an accurate means of measuring your blood pressure.

How then can you make an informed decision about which home BPM to purchase? Never fear; our editors have scoured the BPM market in order to bring out the precious from the worthless. If a BPM has made it to this list, you can be assured of its accuracy and reliability. Basically, you can’t go wrong with any of the BPMs being reviewed on this page.

Without further ado, we present to you the top ten blood pressure monitors according to our estimation (the first seven are upper arm monitors and the last three are wrist monitors, but more on that later):

• Omron 10 Series Wireless
• QardioArm Smart Blood Pressure Monitor
• Withings BPM Connect
• A&D Medical Upper Arm (UA-767F)
• Greater Goods Blood Pressure Monitor Cuff
• Greater Goods Smart Blood Pressure Monitor Cuff
• Beurer BM55
• Care Touch Fully Automatic Wrist Blood Pressure Cuff Monitor
• Omron 7 Series Wireless Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor
• iProvèn Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor Watch (BPM 337)

For those of you who are in a bit of a hurry, we have detailed some of the key features and details of each of the BPMs in the chart below to give you an overview and general impression:

Product	Type	Number of Users	Number of Readings Stored	Power Source	Connectivity	App	Portability
Omron 10 Series Wireless	Upper Arm Cuff	2	100 per user; unlimited in app	4 AA batteries, AC adapter	Bluetooth, Alexa	yes	somewhat portable
QardioArm Smart	Upper Arm Cuff	8	0 on device, unlimited in app	4 AAA batteries	Bluetooth	yes	ultra-portable
Withings BPM Connect	Upper Arm Cuff	8	1 per user; unlimited in app	USB rechargeable	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth	yes	ultra-portable
A&D Medical UA-767F	Upper Arm Cuff	4	60 per user	4 AA batteries; AC adapter sold separately	no	no	portable
Greater Goods	Upper Arm Cuff	2	60 per user	4 AAA batteries, AC adapter	no	no	portable
Greater Goods Smart	Upper Arm Cuff	2	60 per user	4 AAA batteries, AC adapter	Bluetooth	yes	portable
Beurer BM55	Upper Arm Cuff	2	60 per user	AAA batteries; AC adapter sold separately	USB	computer software	very portable
Care Touch Fully Automatic Wrist	Wrist Cuff	2	60 per user	2 AA batteries	no	no	ultra-portable
Omron 7 Series Wireless	Wrist Cuff	1	100 on device, unlimited in app	2 AAA batteries; AC adapter sold separately	Bluetooth, Alexa	yes	ultra-portable
iProvèn BPM 337	Wrist Cuff	1	60 on device	4 AA batteries; AC adapter sold separately	no	no	ultra-portable

Upper Arm Cuff Blood Pressure Monitors:

Omron 10 Series Wireless Upper Arm BPM

No doubt one of the most famous and popular brands of BPMs and other medical equipment is Omron. In fact, when patients are looking to purchase a home BPM, an Omron device is oftentimes their doctors’ first recommendation.

Omron has made a name for itself over the past 40 years for bringing to the market a staggering number of BPMs which are known for their accuracy, reliability, and ease of use. This Omron 10 Series Wireless Upper Arm BPM is the #1 best-selling BPM on Amazon and one of the most popular home BPMs on the market.

Although it can certainly pair with your smartphone via Bluetooth and dazzle you with the many facets of its Omron companion app, what actually enables the Omron 10 Series Wireless to shine is its simplicity. In fact, it can be used by itself without any smartphone or smart device pairing of any kind. It has an exceedingly simple and intuitive user interface—in most cases, all you need to do to take your blood pressure is to press the big blue button labeled “START/STOP.”

The simplicity of its design and use, combined with a set of exceedingly practical and helpful features, prove to be a winning combination for the Omron 10 Series Wireless. For instance, the cuff is easy to place around your arm and the monitor will automatically average your blood pressure readings when you take three measurements in a row.

Trend tracking is another excellent feature of the Omron 10 Series Wireless. Two users may store up to 100 blood pressure readings per person on one device, allowing you to easily compare your results with your friend or significant other. The digital display is large, clear, backlit, and easy to read and interpret.

The Omron 10 Series may have a slightly bulkier look than some of the other BPMs on this list, but its accuracy, ease of use, readability, and practical tracking features have combined to make it one of the most popular home BPMs ever made. It simply does what it says: it monitors your blood pressure and does an excellent job of it.

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Can track 2 users and store 100 readings per user
• Highly readable
• Automatically averages results of three consecutive readings
• Connects via Bluetooth to app

Cons:

• A bit bulkier than other monitors

QardioArm Smart BPM

A BPM born for the smartphone age, the QardioArm Smart BPM was developed through an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign, where it raised more than $140,000, over $40,000 more than its stated fundraising goal of $100,000.

Everything about the QardioArm Smart is sophisticated, sleek, elegant, minimalistic, sexy, and geared toward the average millennial smartphone user (or at least the average millennial who is in the market for a BPM). The QardioArm Smart is completely wireless and truly a beauty to behold.

The QardioArm Smart pairs with your iPhone, Android phone, Kindle device, or smart watch via Bluetooth 4.0 to deliver its blood pressure readings and results. In fact, the QardioArm is unable to function independently of a smartphone or other computerized device of some kind. This may be considered a serious drawback for those who do not yet possess a smartphone or who are not so technologically inclined.

Essentially, if you do not have a smart device or smart watch (or if your smart device just happens to be out of battery at the time), the QardioArm will not be able to supply you with any data about your blood pressure.

But if possessing a smartphone or smart watch is not an issue for you and you want something exceptionally sleek, beautiful, and portable, this may be the BPM for you. The cuff is comfortable to wear and fairly easy to use, with a user-friendly and straightforward Qardio companion app.

Blood pressure readings are synced automatically to your device, and you can view your readings, results, and trends directly and easily on the app on your device. The app shows your results in comparison to charts and health information provided by the World Health Organization, and your data can be shared easily with your family, friends, or doctor through the app or via email.

Other features tailored to the smartphone user include geo tracking, which allows you to see when and where your blood pressure reading was taken, reminders on your device to help you take readings more frequently, and “relaxation mode,” in which you view your photo gallery on your device in order to promote a more relaxed setting while you are taking your measurements.

Pros:

• Elegant, sleek, and aesthetically pleasing
• Ultra-portable
• Fully integrated with your smartphone

Cons:

• Useless without a smart device (cannot be used as a standalone monitor)
• Expensive

Withings BPM Connect

Another BPM produced for the iPhone age, the Withings BPM Connect is quite similar to the QardioArm Smart in that both devices are truly wireless, with the monitor itself attached to the upper arm cuff. And like the QardioArm, the Withings is also sleek, elegant, minimalistic, designed for portability, and intended to be fully integrated with your smart device.

However, the Withings differs from the QardioArm in one key regard: it gives you the readings of your blood pressure while you take the measurement, without the need for you to reach for your smartphone. As you take a blood pressure measurement, the Withings will display both your systolic reading and your diastolic reading directly on the front of the device itself (and look very cool while doing so). And as it gives you each number, it will also give you color-coded feedback regarding your numbers based on recommendations from the American Heart Association.

Therefore, the Withings can be used at least somewhat independently from a smart device as a standalone BPM. So if your phone is out of battery, never fear: you will still be able to receive your blood pressure readings while you are taking the measurements.

Another distinct advantage the Withings has over the QardioArm (and over a number of other monitors on this list) lies in its power source. While the QardioArm Smart and several other BPMs on this list require standard alkaline batteries, the Withings BPM is powered by a single lithium ion battery that is charged via micro USB and which will last 6 months on a single charge.

The Withings BPM Connect, true to its name, connects via Bluetooth to the Withings Health Mate app on the iOS or Android smart device of your choosing. Furthermore, if you decide to take a measurement at home but you don’t have your phone next to you, your readings are still automatically synced to the app via your home Wi-Fi network.

Up to 8 people can use one Withings, and each person’s data will be stored securely in the app, and each user has unlimited storage for his or her data. iPhone users will find that the Withings is compatible with the Apple Health app and can sync data to it automatically and seamlessly. The iPhone version of the Withings Health Mate app can also share your data directly and easily with your doctor in just a few taps.

The app can also be set to send you reminders to take blood pressure measurements on a more regular basis. And of course, the Withings is highly compact and very portable, allowing you to take it with you wherever you may go.

Pros:

• Fully integrated with your smartphone
• Can be used by up to 8 people with unlimited data storage
• Elegant and ultra-portable
• 6 months of battery life on a single USB charge

Cons:

• Upper arm cuff is stiff and may be difficult to put on
• Start button is small and hard to locate
• Expensive

A&D Medical Upper Arm BPM (UA-767F)

A&D offers a BPM that could not be more unlike the QardioArm Smart and the Withings BPM Connect. If you don’t want all the bells and whistles such as Bluetooth smartphone integration, data transfer off of the device, or a backlit display, the A&D Medical UA-767F may be right for you. This is a no-frills BPM that, like the Omron, is quite straightforward, easy to use with a large blue start button, and relatively easy on your wallet.

The A&D UA-767F can be used by up to four people and can store up to 60 readings per person for a total of 240 readings. It also offers automatic averaging of a user’s blood pressure measurements. Furthermore, it can detect and indicate an irregular heartbeat. Its focus is undeniably simplicity and ease of use; the A&D UA-767F heavily promotes its “One Button Operation.”

4 AA batteries supply power to the A&D UA-767F, although you can buy a compatible AC adapter to go with it if you prefer to plug it into an outlet.

The upper arm cuff was found to be uncomfortable and too tight by some users, but other users did not have a problem with it. The inflation process might also be considered loud by some.

Although it won’t be winning any style or design competitions anytime soon, the A&D UA-767F is an accurate, reliable, and easy-to-use monitor that you can share with other family members and that won’t break the bank or confuse you with too many frills.

Pros:

• Can be used by up to 4 people and can store up to 60 readings per person
• Straightforward one button operation
• Affordable

Cons:

• Uncomfortable upper arm cuff
• Loud inflation process

Greater Goods BPM Cuff

If you want a simple, accurate BPM that is exceedingly easy to read and to use and quite portable (but that won’t break the bank), look no further than the Greater Goods BPM Cuff by Balance. It is quite similar to the A&D UA-767F, but it is cheaper and has a larger, backlit LCD display which is highly readable. However, while the A&D UA-767F can be used by up to 4 people, the Greater Goods BPM can be used by only 2 people.

The Greater Goods BPM Cuff is thoughtfully designed for maximum usability and readability. It has a large, green, clearly labeled “START/STOP” button and it prides itself on its one button operation. Furthermore, the systolic reading, the diastolic reading, and a few other measures are displayed on the large, backlit LCD screen and are clearly labeled.

Testers of the Greater Goods monitor have raved about how accurate it is, some even going so far as to say that even their doctors were impressed by the accuracy. Furthermore, the upper arm cuff has been described as being quite comfortable and easy to use.

Up to 60 measurements per user may be stored for up to 2 users. Furthermore, it comes with two sources of power: it takes 4 AAA alkaline batteries but also comes with a compatible AC adapter so that you are prepared in the case that you run out of battery or if you prefer to plug it into the wall. For the A&D UA-767F, the AC adapter is sold separately. The Greater Goods monitor also comes with a convenient and compact travel bag.

All of this simplicity, usability, and readability comes at a nearly unbeatable price. Unfortunately, because the Greater Goods BPM Cuff is so simple, it lacks any way to export your results. If you want to track your readings over a longer period of time (beyond 60 readings), then you will have to write them down.

Pros:

• Extremely affordable
• One button operation
• Highly readable and user friendly
• Portable
• Flexible power options included

Cons:

• No way to export results

Greater Goods Smart BPM Cuff

This additional offering by Balance, the Greater Goods Smart BPM Cuff, includes everything positive about the above Greater Goods BPM Cuff and adds on Bluetooth connectivity.

Basically, if you think that the Greater Goods BPM Cuff has the perfect feature set for you but you want to be able to export your blood pressure results to a smartphone or health app, then this Greater Goods Smart BPM Cuff may be the BPM of your dreams.

Although it is slightly more expensive than the Greater Goods BPM Cuff above, the Greater Goods Smart is still fairly affordable, its cost being somewhere in the realm of the A&D UA-767F. (But remember that the Greater Goods monitors come with the AC adapters already included, whereas the AC adapter for the A&D UA-767F must be purchased separately).

The Greater Goods Smart connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth, so that when you take a blood pressure measurement, the readings automatically sync to the Balance Health app. The app then gives you context and more information about your readings and measurement history.

If you prefer not to have data transfer off of your blood pressure monitoring device, then look no further than the Greater Goods BPM Cuff or the A&D UA-767F. But if you want all the simplicity, accuracy, comfort, usability, readability, and portability that the Greater Goods monitor has to offer and you also want some method of external data transfer as well, then the Greater Goods Smart BPM Cuff might just be the perfect fit for you (pun intended).

Pros:

• Affordable
• Smartphone app integration
• One button operation
• Highly readable and user friendly
• Portable
• Flexible power options included

Cons:

• None

Beurer BM55

When you think of quality German engineering and design, you might first come up with Mercedes Benz, BMW, Audi, or Bosch. But here is another name you should add to the list: Beurer. This family-owned German manufacturing company is a maker of electrical products designed to monitor your health and your well-being, an enterprise which they began entering into in the 1980s.

What may be their top offering in the realm of BPMs is the Beurer BM55. In fact, the Beurer BM55 was awarded by the German Pharmacy Association the designation Blood Pressure Monitor of the Year not once, not twice, but three times.

The Beurer BM55 is slim, easy on the eyes, and supremely comfortable. Users have commented on how comfortable and easy to use it is. Also, it includes a USB cable which can be used to connect it to a computer and interface with the included Beurer HealthManager software, which is free to download. In this way, you can export your blood pressure results.

In terms of its function, the Beurer BM55 is fairly similar to the Greater Goods BPM. But the Beurer BM55 has a smaller footprint and a somewhat more attractive design. It also possesses a highly readable, backlit display.

The Beurer BM55 includes patented technology to indicate rest. Basically, the monitor can tell you whether or not you are in a restful enough condition to take a proper and accurate blood pressure reading.

Furthermore, the Beurer BM55 includes an average measurement function which takes the average of all your blood pressure readings throughout a span of 7 days. It also gives you an average of all the readings which have been taken so far by you on the device.

The Beurer BM55 even detects disturbances and irregularities in your heart rhythm. It indicates such an occurrence with a warning symbol on the display. Your blood pressure readings will also be more understandable due to the color-coded feedback it displays in response to your systolic and diastolic pressure numbers.

Like the Greater Goods monitors, the Beurer BM55 can be used by up to 2 people and can store up to 60 readings per person. It also switches itself off automatically for your convenience and energy saving aspirations, should you happen to forget to turn it off.

The convenience, practicality, ease of use, and greater functionality of the Beurer BM55 comes at a cost that is somewhat greater (though still somewhat affordable) than the Greater Goods monitors, but its award-winning status as well as its supreme comfort, aesthetically pleasing design, ease of use, and impressive feature set may be considered well worth the additional financial outlay.

Pros:

• Easy to use; comfortable
• Highly readable and user friendly
• Portable
• Detects irregularities and disturbances in heart rhythms

Cons:

• Lacks Bluetooth connectivity and smartphone integration

Wrist Cuff Blood Pressure Monitors:

Care Touch Fully Automatic Wrist

One of three wrist BPMs we have chosen to include in this list of the top ten, the Care Touch Fully Automatic Wrist Blood Pressure Cuff Monitor excels at taking accurate blood pressure measurement at an extremely fast pace.

There are some BPMs which require several minutes to perform their calculations and give you your results, but the Care Touch Fully Automatic Wrist will give you your blood pressure numbers in 60 seconds or fewer. The Care Touch Fully Automatic Wrist is the one of the fastest BPMs we have seen overall.

Even though the Care Touch Fully Automatic Wrist is fairly tiny and exceedingly portable, it still bears a pretty large and easy to read backlit LCD display which shows the results of your measurements very clearly. The display also includes an irregular heart beat indicator as well as a low battery indicator.

In order to conserve battery power, the Care Touch Fully Automatic Wrist also powers off automatically after it has not been in use for a little while. This is especially important due to the fact that there is no way to supply power to the Care Touch Fully Automatic Wrist with an AC adapter. The 2 alkaline AA batteries are your only power option.

The Care Touch Fully Automatic Wrist advertises itself as Fast, Easy, and Accurate, and it fully lives up to all of those claims. There are fewer wrist cuff BPMs on this list than there are upper arm cuff monitors, due to the overall difficulty of getting an accurate blood pressure reading from the wrist. However, with the Care Touch Fully Automatic Wrist (as well as the other two wrist monitors on this list), you can be assured that your results will be as accurate as possible.

Pros:

• Fast: measurements in 60 seconds or fewer
• Highly readable
• Ultra-portable
• Easy to use
• Extremely affordable

Cons:

• No AC adapter available
• No way to export results

Omron 7 Series Wireless Wrist

The second offering from Omron on this list (though we could have easily included others), the Omron 7 Series Wireless Wrist BPM is another reliable and accurate wrist monitor. It includes many of the features of the Omron 10 Series Wireless, but it carries those features in an exceedingly portable, compact device.

The Omron 7 Series Wireless stores a total of 100 readings on the device itself and can connect wirelessly via Bluetooth to an iOS or Android device of your choosing for unlimited data storage on the Omron Connect app. The app also allows you to share your blood pressure readings with your friends, your family, or your doctor. The Omron 7 Series Wireless can even connect to Amazon Alexa.

The display of the Omron 7 Series Wireless, while not as large as that of the Care Touch Fully Automatic Wrist, is still clear, backlit, and readable. Furthermore, the display provides a blood pressure level bar which will inform you of the level of your blood pressure and whether it falls within the normal, healthy range or not.

The Omron 7 Series Wireless also includes a sensor to detect any movement that could render your blood pressure measurement inaccurate; in the case of such movement, the screen will display a Movement Error Symbol and inform you of your need to remain absolutely still and calm to obtain the most accurate readings.

Omron is famous for making reliable, accurate, and easy to use BPMs, and the Omron 7 Series Wireless is no exception to this rule. If you want an extremely portable yet reliable and accurate BPM that can be integrated with your smartphone, then the Omron 7 Series Wireless may be the way to go for you.

Pros:

• The only wrist monitor on our list with smartphone app integration
• Ultra-portable
• Easy to use
• Readable

Cons:

• Wrist monitors still may not be as accurate as upper arm monitors

iProvèn BPM 337 Wrist Watch

If you want one of the cheapest possible BPMs that still manages to be clinically accurate and easy to use, you might choose to go with the iProvèn BPM 337 Wrist Watch. Like the A&D Medical UA-767F, this wrist cuff BPM is entirely without frills, fancy features, or other bells and whistles. It simply takes your blood pressure in a fast and accurate way.

Like the other wrist monitors, despite its tiny size, the iProvèn BPM 337 has a relatively large, clear, and readable screen. Next to the display, there is a colorful bar indicating where your blood pressure lies according to the American Heart Association’s blood pressure guidelines.

You can store up to 60 readings in the iProvèn BPM 337. There is no way to export this data to another location other than writing it down yourself, but remember: this is a BPM without frills of any kind. It takes your blood pressure accurately and stores that data.

Furthermore, this is one of the lightest, most compact BPMs available. The fact that you can take it anywhere and get an accurate reading anywhere is definitely an advantage.

If you want an extremely inexpensive, amazingly portable, simple, and accurate BPM, the iProvèn BPM 337 may be the one for you.

Pros:

• Ultra-affordable
• Ultra-portable
• Simple and readable
• Fast: measurements in 30 seconds or fewer

Cons:

• No way to export results
• Wrist monitors still may not be as accurate as upper arm monitors

Important Factors to Consider When Buying

Type of Cuff

There are two kinds of blood pressure monitors: upper arm cuff monitors and wrist cuff monitors. As we have previously mentioned, upper arm cuff monitors in general are more accurate than wrist cuff monitors for a variety of reasons.

Wrist cuff monitors are oftentimes hard to place properly on your wrist, and if placed improperly, they will give an inaccurate reading. Furthermore, your wrist has to be level with your heart for the blood pressure measurement in your wrist to accurately represent your blood pressure overall. Thus, in general, it is a good idea to buy an upper arm cuff monitor rather than a wrist cuff monitor.

However, if you want a blood pressure monitor that is portable above all else, or if you will suffer pain or discomfort from an upper arm cuff, it is acceptable in these cases to choose a wrist cuff monitor. In this case, the three we have included on the list will be a safe bet for you.

No matter what kind of blood pressure monitor you choose, it is vital that you follow the directions fully in order to obtain the most accurate results possible.

Size of Cuff

The size of the cuff is one of the most important features to ascertain when you are considering the options for BPMs.

The size of the cuff is related to the circumference of your upper arm or the circumference of your wrist. An ill-fitting monitor cuff will very likely give you readings which are inaccurate.

These are the size recommendations offered by the 2017 High Blood Pressure Clinical Practice Guidelines, which are endorsed by both the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology.

Adult small: Arm circumference of 22 to 26 centimeters (about 8.5 to 10 inches).

Adult average: Arm circumference of 27 to 34 centimeters (about 10.5 to 13 inches).

Adult large: Arm circumference of 35 to 44 centimeters (about 13.5 to 17 inches).

Accuracy

Accuracy is another obviously important feature to look for when purchasing a BPM. All the BPMs on this page have a reputation for accuracy (though upper arm monitors are still more consistently accurate than wrist monitors).

It’s a good idea to check the accuracy of your home BPM every once in a while, to ensure that it is still functioning properly and giving accurate readings. We recommend taking your monitor to the doctor’s office and testing its accuracy against your doctor’s device. If the numbers are within 10 points of one another, your monitor can be deemed accurate.

Features

You should consider how you intend to use your BPM. Do you prefer a simple device with no bells, whistles, or complications, a monitor that simply tells you what your blood pressure is?

Or do you want every feature imaginable, with smartphone integration, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, a fully featured and well-designed app, Amazon Alexa compatibility, etc.?

Or perhaps your preferences lie somewhere in the middle of those two extremes.

It is worthwhile to make a list of the features you want to see in your BPM and compare them with the ones available; knowing which features you want (or don’t want) will help narrow the field of choices considerably.

Portability

If you plan to use your BPM exclusively at home, then the size, weight, and bulkiness of BPM probably will not concern you too much.

But if you intend to travel frequently and take your blood pressure on the go, then lightness, compactness, size, and flexible power options will affect your considerations greatly.

Of all the BPMs on this list, the only one that would be slightly cumbersome to travel with (although by no means impossibly difficult) is the Omron Series 10 Wireless.

Average Measurement

It is a good practice to take your blood pressure three or more times consecutively and then take the average of those readings in order to obtain the most accurate reading possible. You could, for instance, take your blood pressure once, wait 90 seconds, take it again, wait another 90 seconds, and take it a third time.

It may be helpful to look for a BPM that already possesses the feature of taking the average of several measurements.

What the Numbers Mean

Your blood pressure measurement consists of two numbers: systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. On your BPM, your systolic blood pressure is represented by the top number on the screen and your diastolic blood pressure is represented by the bottom number. Systolic pressure is when your heart pumps, and diastolic pressure is when your heart rests.

The following chart provides more detail on the different ranges of blood pressure measurements:

BLOOD PRESSURE CATEGORY	SYSTOLIC mm Hg (upper number)		DIASTOLIC mm Hg (lower number)
Low	Less than 90	and	Less than 60
Normal	Less than 120	and	Less than 80
ELEVATED	120 to 129	and	Less than 80
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (HYPERTENSION) STAGE 1	130 to 139	or	80-89
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (HYPERTENSION) STAGE 2	140 or higher	or	90 or higher
HYPERTENSIVE CRISIS (please consult your doctor immediately!)	Higher than 180	and/or	Higher than 120

Why Blood Pressure Matters

Having high blood pressure significantly increases your risk of suffering a stroke or a heart attack. According to research, eighty percent of people who have a stroke for the first time had high blood pressure at the time in which the stroke occurred. And seventy percent of people who suffer a heart attack for the first time also had high blood pressure at the time.

In addition to the aforementioned life-threatening and potentially debilitating conditions, high blood pressure can also take its toll on other areas of the human body. For instance, your kidneys, eyes, and brain can be damaged as well by persistently high blood pressure.

Because this health condition is so dangerous, it is crucial for you to monitor your blood pressure regularly in order to maintain your health. But you can’t always spend the time and money to go to a doctor or a nurse every single time you are worried that your blood pressure might be too high. This would prove quite costly in the long run. But if you suffer from high blood pressure, it may mean the difference between life and death for you to be able to take your blood pressure at any time and for you to seek emergency medical attention if necessary.

Inaccurate or Insufficient Measurements

Even when you make a visit to your doctor’s office in order to have your blood pressure taken, you may not necessarily get a completely accurate reading, potentially rendering the purpose of your visit null and void.

Your blood pressure varies throughout the day depending on a number of different variables. Thus, the blood pressure measurement taken by your doctor or nurse may not be the most accurate representation of your actual blood pressure numbers. It is best to take your blood pressure at different times throughout the day to get a full and more accurate picture of this important measure.

Furthermore, a number of people suffer from what is known as “white coat hypertension.” That is, their blood pressure becomes elevated beyond what it would be normally when they take their blood pressure in a doctor’s office. It is possible that anxiety from the mere fact of being in the doctor’s office causes their blood pressure measurements to skyrocket or be higher than normal.

Oddly enough, the opposite effect has also been known to take place. This condition is known as “masked hypertension.” People who have masked hypertension will have a low or normal blood pressure reading only when they are at the doctor’s office and have high blood pressure readings at any other time. Scientists and cardiovascular researchers are still mystified as to the possible reasons for masked hypertension.

The condition of masked hypertension may be particularly dangerous, since someone suffering from this condition would receive word from his or her doctor that their overall health is fine (due to the normal blood pressure numbers), but in reality, he or she would be actually suffering from high blood pressure and yet be completely unaware of it and thereby be completely oblivious to his or her urgent need to make any necessary changes to their lifestyle and health regimen.

Why You Should Invest in a Home Monitor

Thus, a BPM that you can use in the comfort of your own home is truly an invaluable tool for monitoring and maintaining your overall health at an optimum level. It may even save your life.

Recent studies have shown that the very act of consistently monitoring one’s blood pressure in a home environment has a positive effect on people with high blood pressure: it helps them keep their high blood pressure under control. Monitoring oneself can lead to lower blood pressure readings in both the systolic and diastolic aspects. Furthermore, other recent research has demonstrated that for people who suffer from uncontrolled high blood pressure, monitoring their blood pressure in a home setting can help them get their previously out of control blood pressure numbers under control.

Furthermore, for those who have begun taking blood pressure medications at the direction of their doctor in an attempt to control their blood pressure, monitoring their blood pressure by themselves at home can allow them to see how well the medication is working. This can enable them to be much better informed about any need for a change in their medication the next time they visit their doctor.

Clearly, monitoring your blood pressure at home carries with it a great many benefits. It is all the more important, therefore, for you to select a reliable and accurate BPM that is easy for you to use and for you to understand. Only then will you reap the full benefit of measuring your blood pressure at home.

Conclusion

If you have decided to invest in your health, longevity, and well-being by purchasing a BPM that you will be able to use in your home, congratulations. You’ve decided to take a crucial step in your journey to greater well-being and a higher quality of life.

Remember to buy the monitor that best suits your needs. If you will always be taking your blood pressure at home in the same location, the Omron 10 Series Wireless may be the best one for you.

If you prefer a sleek, ultra-portable monitor built for the iPhone age, take a look at the QardioArm Smart or the Withings BPM Connect. Both are loaded with features that you can utilize to the fullest extent with a smartphone or other mobile device but are the most expensive monitors on our list.

If you prefer a simple device with as few frills as possible, the A&D Medical UA-767F or the Greater Goods monitor may be the best fit for you.

But if you need a simple, easy to use monitor that is smartphone integrated and also portable, the Greater Goods Smart or Beurer BM55 may best suit your needs.

And of course, there is the realm of the ultra-portable: the wrist monitors. We have taken care to select wrist monitors which are famed for their accuracy, reliability, and ease of use.

We hope this guide to blood pressure monitors has been a help to you.

Good luck finding your blood pressure monitor. Enjoy your first steps on the journey to wellness and longevity!