Five things to consider when buying an upper arm blood pressure monitor

21 February 2023
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An upper arm blood pressure monitor allows you to measure your blood pressure at home, which will enable you to monitor your health and fitness goals. However, it is important to buy the best monitor for you. Here are some things to consider when buying a blood pressure monitor.

Arm size

Firstly, make sure that the cuff fits comfortably around your upper arm. The larger your arm, the larger the cuff will need to be to fit it. You should be able to fit two fingers between the cuff and your arm. Monitors are often sold with medium-sized cuffs, in which case you may have to buy a larger or smaller cuff in order to use it correctly. If your upper arm has a very large circumference, it may be better to get a wrist monitor.

Lifestyle

Next, consider how you will be using the monitor. If you travel a lot and you want to carry the monitor around with you, you should choose a lightweight model that is easy to pack. Otherwise, you will be able to buy a larger monitor that you can use regularly at home.

Connectivity

Another issue to consider is whether you want to connect your monitor to your smartphone. Many models can send the data directly to your phone so you can follow your own progress. This can be useful if you are monitoring your blood pressure for health reasons and need to share the results with your doctor, as readings taken at the surgery are often not representative of your daily measurements.

Validation

If you have medical reasons for wanting to measure your blood pressure, you will need one that is properly validated by a medical organisation for the purpose. Small inaccuracies may not matter if you are just trying to track your fitness, but medical uses require a higher level of accuracy.

Doctor's advice

Finally, don't be afraid to ask your doctor about the right kind of monitor. They can advise you about the right kind of monitor for your particular medical needs and may also be able to lend you a monitor to try out at home before you buy one.

It is worth buying the right monitor if you want to keep track of your health. Your supplier will be happy to explain the various types available and answer any further questions to help you find the right sort for your own needs.

For more information, contact a company like Primary Wellness.