Track your blood pressure from the comfort of your home with these doctor-approved blood pressure monitors.
According to the American Heart Association, if you’re at risk of a heart condition or hypertension, it’s important to monitor your blood pressure regularly. There are several at-home blood pressure monitors that make the process easy and allow your physician to confirm diagnoses. But not all blood pressure monitors are made equal and to help you pick a reliable unit for home use, we spoke with cardiologists to find the most accurate and user-friendly options on the market — all FDA-approved.
Who should be tracking their blood pressure?
Ideally, everyone should, according to Dr. Mary Branch, a cardiologist at Cone Health in Greensboro, North Carolina.
“Blood pressure is a good overall measure of health, so really anyone can,” Branch said. She added that some people may feel blood pressure is only something to worry about when you’re older, but it’s important to establish a baseline when you’re younger, along with other basic health metrics like A1C (an average blood sugar metric that screens for diabetes) and lipids (insight into cholesterol).
While anyone who’s been advised to track blood pressure regularly should do so, it’s especially true for those diagnosed with hypertension. Other populations may be at higher risk of potentially dangerous conditions involving high blood pressure and may benefit from more home monitoring.
Branch advised anyone planning a pregnancy to start tracking their blood pressure because of the risk of preeclampsia, which is a serious and potentially fatal condition involving high blood pressure during pregnancy. Similarly, those who had high blood pressure during pregnancy should track it after giving birth, Branch advised.
What should you watch for while monitoring your blood pressure at home?
Blood pressure is read with two numbers: systolic (the top number, which tells you the pressure your arteries are under with each heart beat) and diastolic (the bottom number, which indicates how much pressure your arteries are under between beats). Only a doctor can diagnose hypertension or chronically high blood pressure, but monitoring at home can clue you in that measurements may be higher than normal and cue you to reach out to a doctor, who can help you get to the bottom of it or manage your heart health. (It’s important to note that any blood pressure reading above 180 systolic — top number — or 120 diastolic, is considered a hypertensive crisis and you should seek medical care immediately.)
But monitoring your blood pressure can provide other clues about your heart health. Dr. Mustali Dohadwala, medical director of Heartsafe in Boston, said that “erratic” blood pressure readings, meaning those that are significantly lower or higher morning to night, or even minute to minute, can indicate an irregular heartbeat such as atrial fibrillation. Some models of blood pressure monitors have irregular heartbeat detection or EKG built in.
On the other hand, lower-than-normal blood pressure can also be detected through home monitoring.
How we chose the best blood pressure monitors
Along with a handful of other monitors, the Withings, LifeSource and Omron Complete with EKG models went through hands-on testing in 2019. Based on factors such as consistency, brand credibility and accuracy, these models remain solid choices today. The Omron 3 series was added last year based on cardiologist preference for the brand in addition to its affordability.
What to know about wrist blood pressure monitors
Right now, the American Heart Association doesn’t recommend using a finger or wrist blood pressure monitor. All three of the doctors we spoke with said people should avoid buying a blood pressure monitor that measures from the wrist.
“The wrist cuffs tend to be inaccurate,” Orfanos said. “They tend to exaggerate the blood pressure,” he added, meaning readings may be higher than they really are.
What makes a good heart monitor?
You’d want accurate readings and a wide feature set from your heart monitor. The readings aren’t a substitute for regular visits with a healthcare provider, especially if you think you might have a problem. A good heart monitor is easy to use, delivers accurate data, tracks your progress and provides data that can be used by your physician to aid with your treatment.
Other factors to consider when shopping for an at-home blood pressure monitor
- Size of your arm: What’s a good fit, cuff-wise, for a larger arm might not be the best fit for a smaller one, and vice versa. Measure the circumference of your arm before you purchase a cuff and monitor to make sure it’ll suit your needs.
- Other heart conditions: Some devices may provide other health metrics, like pulse rate, or detect other health conditions, like irregular heartbeat.
- Clinical validation: This means the device has gone through testing that satisfies medical standards. The easiest way to check your blood pressure monitor has been clinically validated is to look for one listed on validatebp.org.
- Bring it into your doctor’s office for a test run: If you have hypertension and want to keep tabs on your blood pressure at home, it’s a great idea to bring in your blood pressure monitor to your doctor’s office so you can measure your cuff against theirs, making sure readings are aligned and that you’re measuring properly.
How do you use a blood pressure monitor?
The American Heart Association has a few tips for you to keep in mind before and during your blood pressure reading. For the most accurate results, you should:
- Avoid caffeine, smoking or exercising within 30 minutes of taking your blood pressure
- Empty your bladder and rest for 5 minutes before the reading
- Sit correctly with your feet flat on the floor, your back straight and supported, your arm resting on a flat surface
- Make sure you’re not measuring over clothing, including shirtsleeves
- Don’t talk or carry on a conversation while taking your blood pressure
- Secure the cuff directly above the bend of the elbow and check your monitor’s specific instructions
- Measure at the same time every day
- Take two readings per day, about 1 minute apart
Are there symptoms of high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because there are often no obvious signs you have it.
According to the American Heart Association some symptoms are inconclusively related to high blood pressure, such as dizziness, facial flushing and blood spots in the eye. This means that they may occur in people with high blood pressure, but that they aren’t necessarily caused by blood pressure.
If you’re experiencing very high blood pressure — typically 180/120 or higher, according to the World Health Organization — you may have symptoms, and you should consider this a medical emergency. Call for help and get medical care right away.
According to the WHO, symptoms of emergency-level blood pressure can include:
- Severe headaches
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Difficulty breathing
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Blurred vision or other vision changes
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Buzzing in the ears
- Nosebleeds
- Abnormal heart rhythm
Are there symptoms of low blood pressure?
While getting a low blood pressure reading is often considered a positive thing, you may start feeling unwell if your blood pressure gets too low. Low blood pressure, or hypotension, occurs when the blood pressure is less than 90/60, according to the American Heart Association. It can happen for a variety of reasons, from dehydration or prolonged standing to underlying health conditions or heart problems.
Symptoms can include:
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Blurred vision
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Pain in the neck or back
- Headache
- Heart palpitations
The American Heart Association notes that one low reading is not necessarily cause for concern, but does warn that you should call your doctor or seek prompt medical care if you experience a sudden decline in blood pressure.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
