Health and Fitness Information Center

Blood Pressure Monitor Features

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The traditional way of measuring blood pressure at home is by using a aneroid sphygmomanometer cuff and stethoscope. These devices show the pressure on a dial, and are usually accurate, but require a certain degree of dexterity and training.

Features to look for in home blood pressure monitors are memory, cuff size, accuracy of the monitor, battery and other distinguishable characteristics.

Many home blood pressure monitors will store your readings for comparison purposes. Once a reading has been taken, the user can choose whether to store the reading into the memory. While some monitors only store the last reading, many monitors today will hold up to thirty while a select few can actually store 350 measurements!

Using the correct size cuff is important for an accurate reading. A cuff that is too large will produce a reading that is lower than the correct blood pressure; a cuff that is too small yields a measurement that is higher. With your arm hanging at the side of your body, measure the circumference of your upper arm at the midpoint between the shoulder and elbow.

When looking at the accuracy of the blood pressure monitor, the pressure variation should be no more than ±3 mmHg or 2%, whichever is greater. With today's technology, this accuracy is standard in most home models.

While most home blood pressure monitors require batteries to operate, many allow you to supply power from an outlet in your home through an AC adapter jack. Not all monitors are sold with the adapter. However, a standard AC adapter will work. The standard battery size is AA and is often included with the monitor.

Some electronic monitors have a paper printout that gives you a record of the blood pressure reading. This feature is especially nice for those who choose not to take the time to record their individual readings on a chart. And for those technically driven, there is also a blood pressure monitor available that hooks up to your PC. The accompanying software allows for communication interface and provides trending and analysis capabilities.