Tips to Consider When You Set Out to Buy Blood Pressure Monitors

High blood pressure is the silent killer, and many people have this condition without even knowing it. It is a condition that can increase your risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney disease and many other health problems. If you are one of those people who need to manage their blood pressure on a daily basis, there is no denying you need to buy blood pressure monitors. Blood pressure can vary significantly during the day, so having such a device at home will help you to keep it under control and provide you peace of mind.

If you feel confused from the wide range of monitors available we understand you. It is easy to get lost in that sea of devices, especially when you buy blood pressure monitors for the first time and you are not sure what are you looking for. So, if you need some help, do not go any further. Basically, the first thing you will note is that there are two main types of blood pressure machines: arm-cuff and wrist-cuff.

Arm monitors - These monitors inflate the cuff and then display the readings. Most of them feature "risk category indicators" while others allow for downloading the results to a computer what makes it easier to share them with your doctor. One of the biggest pros of these monitors is that they offer more accurate tests. Also, some models have multiple user memories which mean apart from you, other persons from your household can monitor and record their blood pressure readings. When it comes to cons, arm monitors are a bit bulky and less comfortable than wrist monitors. With this type of monitors it is essential to choose the right fit, as otherwise, you will not get accurate readings.

Wrist monitors - These monitors are fully automatic, convenient but may provide less accurate readings than arm monitors. They are lightweight and compact which makes them easily portable and are usually more comfortable than arm monitors. Measurements taken with this monitor are extremely sensitive to body position. Both types of blood pressure monitors should be placed at a position at heart level for a more accurate reading. And this can be a bit difficult if you are using a wrist monitor.

When looking to buy the right home blood pressure machine you should consider features, performance and price. For instance:

Check the fit - The right fit is essential if you don't want to end up with inaccurate readings anytime you need to measure your blood pressure. Most arm models have two cuffs or one cuff that can be adjusted to fit more people. Also, wrist models fit most people as well. But still, do not forget to check this.

Features - There are a lot of features to consider when buying a blood pressure machine and here a few of them: risk-category indicator, irregular-heartbeat detector, multiple cuffs, multiple user memories, large-digital display, memory download capability and data averaging function.

Easy to use - This means that you need to choose a monitor that has a large display that provides easy-to-read results. Also, the buttons should be intuitive and large while the instructions for using the device and the cuff should be clear.