Blood Pressure Monitor Reviews

Automatic Blood Pressure Monitors for Home Use

If left unmonitored, high blood pressure can prove to be a fatal disease. Possibly the most effective way of managing high blood pressure is to keep a regular check on it, monitoring fluctuations and pinpointing factors that cause the onset of hypertension. The best way to do this is by means of a blood pressure monitor, and with simple one touch operation it’s no wonder that automatic blood pressure monitors for home use have gained unrivaled popularity.

Aneroid sphygmomanometers are manual blood pressure monitors that are still used by a small percentage of people, most often seen in the offices of a health practitioner. They provide accurate readings, but only if used with precision and according to detailed instructions.

Automatic blood pressure monitors are preferred above manual monitors because the push of a button is all it takes for an inbuilt computer to process the reading and display it digitally. When evaluating the pros and cons of an automatic blood pressure monitor, it is easy to see why automatic is the popular choice.

The Pros

• One touch operation ensures straightforward functionality
• Computerized readings
• Does not require another person to take readings
• Automatic inflation
• Mostly accurate
• Different models for wrist and upper arm
• Digital display

The Cons

• The price is higher than an aneroid sphygmomanometer
• Typically automatic monitors require batteries
• In some cases the reading is marginally inaccurate

How to Take Readings with Automatic Blood Pressure Monitors

It is very simple to take a reading with an automatic blood pressure monitor for home use. The exact operation of your blood pressure monitor will depend on the model that you choose to purchase, but most automatic monitors work in a similar manner.

Position the appropriately sized cuff correctly on your wrist or arm depending on which model you have. Some devices have advanced positioning sensor technology that will help you to find the optimal cuff position.

After you have secured the cuff, the press of a single button is usually all it takes for the cuff to automatically inflate to the optimum level. The inbuilt computer will read your blood pressure from the blood movements sensed by the cuff and display your digital blood pressure reading; systolic pressure is the top number and diastolic is the bottom number.

A normal blood pressure reading is 120/80 or lower. If your pressure reading is 140/90 or higher then you have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. A reading somewhere between 120/80 and 140/90 could indicate the beginning stages of high blood pressure, also known as pre-hypertension.

High blood pressure is a disease that needs to be managed effectively. Together with visits to your doctor, you can manage your blood pressure by taking regular readings as home.

Purchasing an Automatic Monitor

Acquiring an automatic blood pressure monitor is a good idea if you’re looking for a user-friendly device that comes with advanced features. Automatic blood pressure monitors for home use are slightly more expensive than manual aneroid sphygmomanometers, but they are well worth the extra expense.