Blood Pressure Monitors
Which type of machine is recommended to use at home?
If you are considering buying a blood pressure monitor to record your readings at home it is important that you make an informed decision about the type of machine and how to use it before you make your purchase.
Here you will find details of blood pressure monitors that are suitable for home use compiled by the British (& Irish) Hypertension Society (BHS & BIHS) and is intended to provide a useful guide to help you choose a good quality validated machine that is approved by BIHS for to give accurate readings.
Before you commit to buying blood pressure monitoring equipment it is worth investigating the quality of various types of machines suitable for home use – below are details about some of the most popular machines that are widely available in healthcare stores and online. Shop around and you will find the latest British Hypertension Society approved models often available with excellent discounts and offers from trusted suppliers.
Many of the monitors on this list are digital upper arm machines that are easy to use and can store your readings to give a record of your blood pressure over several weeks. They have been tested independently and research has confirmed that they can provide accurate readings.
To improve accuracy and comfort different size cuffs are also available. More about cuff size
White Coat Syndrome
Sometimes your blood pressure may raised when the reading taken in a clinical or medical environment, such as your doctor’s surgery. This is called white coat hypertension (or syndrome) and can be caused by anxiety or by being in a busy or noisy environment. Blood pressure readings taken at home are often lower than those taken at a doctor’s surgery. Readings taken away from the clinic setting are now seen to provide a more accurate picture of your normal blood pressure.
Using your Blood Pressure Monitor Properly
To use these machines properly and take accurate readings, see the full information fact sheet about how to measure your blood pressure.
For ease of use, these machines can be fully automatic and measure blood pressure correctly on the upper arm at heart level. The readings are given on a digital display and can be stored in the monitor’s memory or printed out.
It is worth noting that electronic blood pressure measuring devices are recognised as providing the most reliable reading. They also have the following advantages:
- They are accurate for routine clinical use and are relatively inexpensive.
- Mercury machines (sphygmonometers) are being phased out because of the hazardous nature of the chemical mercury.
- They eliminate human error in blood pressure measurement.
Blood pressure monitors considered accurate by the British Hypertension Society
ALL of the machines listed above on this page are the latest BP monitors featured as validated the BHS / BIHS and have been tested independently against recognised protocols and approved for accuracy.
Monitor Cuff Size
Using the appropriate size of arm cuff is important for an accurate reading.
Most people use the standard size cuff that comes with the monitor and obtain an accurate reading.
Some people have slim or bigger arms and a standard size cuff may not be suitable to obtain the best reading. Most machines are supplied with a standard cuff but you can order and buy different size cuffs to suit your needs.
Recommended places where to buy a monitor
Blood pressure monitors are now widely available from high street chemists and lots of reputable online stores.
