Monday, July 18, 2011

Right blood pressure monitor - how to choose it?

Choosing the best home blood pressure monitor for you

If you do decide to measure your blood pressure at home, you will need to get a home blood pressure monitor. There is a wide range of home blood pressure monitors available, but it is important to be sure that the blood pressure monitor you choose is accurate and the right one for you.

Automatic blood pressure monitors

There are many different kinds of home blood pressure monitor, but it is easiest to use a monitor that is fully automatic (digital). Choose one that measures your blood pressure at your upper arm, rather than at your wrist or finger. Upper-arm blood pressure monitors usually give the most accurate and consistent results.

Make sure your monitor is accurate

Make sure that the home blood pressure monitor you choose has been listed as 'clinically validated' for accuracy by the British Hypertension Society. This means that the digital monitor has gone through a series of tests to make sure it gives results that you and your doctor can trust.
Please fill in the form at the end of this page for a list of clinically-validated home blood pressure monitors.

Make sure you have the right cuff size

An upper-arm blood pressure monitor will come with a cuff that you need to wrap around your arm. If you use a cuff that is the wrong size for you, your blood pressure reading will not be correct. Measure around your upper arm at the midpoint between your shoulder and elbow, and choose your cuff size from the chart below.
Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor cuff sizes
Measurement (cm)Measurement (inches)Cuff size
18-22 cm7.1-8.7”Small
22-32 cm8.8-12.8”Medium
32-45 cm12.8-18”Large

Most home blood pressure monitors will come with a medium-sized cuff. You may have to order a different-sized cuff separately.

Choose a digital monitor to suit your budget

Blood pressure monitors can vary in price. This usually depends on the number of extra features that the digital monitor has, like a built-in memory for example.
All you need to measure your blood pressure correctly is a clinically validated monitor, and a pen and paper to record your readings. Extra features can be helpful but they are not necessary. Choose a home blood pressure monitor that you can afford.

Keep your home blood pressure monitor calibrated

Because your blood pressure monitor works automatically, it will need to be re-calibrated at least once every two years to be sure it is giving you accurate results. To have your automatic home monitor re-calibrated, you will need to send it back to the manufacturer. There will probably be a fee for this service.

Clinically validated monitors

A and D Instruments home blood pressure monitors (S, St and L cuffs available to buy)
  • A and D Instruments UA-704 monitor - £39.10
  • A and D Instruments UA-705 monitor - £39.10
  • A and D Instruments UA-774 monitor - £60.05
  • A and D Instruments UA-767 monitor - £69.99
  • A and D Instruments UA-782 monitor - £76.38
  • A and D Instruments UA-85X monitor- Series comprising UA-851, UA-852, UA-853, UA-854, and UA-855 - £69.99
  • A and D Instruments UA-779 monitor - £69.85
  • A and D Instruments UA-767 Plus monitor - £79.99
  • A and D Instruments UA-787 monitor - £82.80
  • A and D Instruments UA-767 Plus Memory monitor - £85
  • A and D Instruments UA-767PC monitor - £120.00
  • A and D Instruments UA-767V monitor - £149.99
  • A and D Instruments UA-767-BT monitor - £176.25
Boots the Chemist home blood pressure monitors (S, St & L cuffs)
  • Boots Upper Arm (Omron HEM-742-UK) monitor - £29.95
  • Boots Upper Arm BPM 569-0420 (HEM-7115-BS) monitor- Derivative of Omron M3-1 (HEM-7051-E) - £39.99
  • Boots Upper Arm BPM 56-90-447 (HEM-7101) monitor- Derivative of Omron MX3 Plus (HEM-742-E) - £29.99
  • Boots Upper Arm Intellisense 46-61-486 (HEM-757-UK) monitor- Derivative of HEM-757 - £78.29
  • Boots Upper Arm Intellisense 56-90-404 (HEM 7041-BS) monitor - £79.99
  • Boots Wrist Monitor 56-90-412 (HEM-6000) Derivative of Omron R7 (HEM-637-E2) - £79.99
Braun home blood pressure monitors (Wrist monitor, fits wrist 13-21cm)
  • Braun BP VitalScan Plus 1650 (Wrist monitor) - £44.99
  • Braun BP 3550 (Wrist monitor) – details awaited
Citizen home blood pressure monitors (St cuff only available, while wrist monitor fits wrist 13.5-19.5cm)
  • Citizen CH-432B monitor - £22.95
  • Citizen CH-656C (Wrist monitor) - £30
Health and Life home blood pressure monitors
  • Health and Life HL88HA monitor - £39.99
  • Health and Life HL168JD (Wrist monitor) - not currently sold in UK
Honsun home blood pressure monitors (also branded as Suresign)
  • Honsun LD 3 monitor - £19.95
  • Honsun LD30 monitor -Derivative of Honsun LD-578 - £24.99
  • Honsun LD 578 monitor - £25.95
Kinetik home blood pressure monitors (also branded as Guardian and Mannings)
  • Kinetik BPM Series 1 monitor - £29.99
  • Kinetik BPM 1 K monitor - £29.99
Lloyds Pharmacy home blood pressure monitors
  • Lloyds Pharmacy LBP 1 monitor - £29.99
  • Lloyds Pharmacy LBPK 1 monitor - £29.99
  • Lloyds Pharmacy BP11 monitor - £9.99

Microlife home blood pressure monitors (M and L cuffs)

  • BPA/Microlife BP3AG1 monitor - £39.99 -
  • Microlife WatchBP Home monitor - £69.99
  • Microlife WatchBP Home monitor (with atrial fibrillation detection) - £89.00
  • Microlife 3BTO-A (2) monitor - £59.99 – with two different sized cuffs. Also validated for use in pregnancy.
  • Microlife BP 3BTO-A monitor - £49.89
  • Microlife BP A100 monitor - £49.89
  • Microlife BP A100 Plus monitor - £68.46
  • Microlife - As easy as 123 monitor - £44.98
  • Microlife BP 3AC1-1 monitor - £88.04
  • Microlife BP 3AC1-1PC monitor - £88.04

Nissei home blood pressure monitors

  • Nissei DS-400 monitor - £39.95
Omron home blood pressure monitors (S, St and L upper arm cuffs, while wrist monitor cuffs fit wrists 13.5-21.5cm)
  • Omron M2 Compact monitor - £39.95
  • Omron M2 Compact monitor (HEM 7102-E) - £41.95
  • Omron M2 Basic (HEM-7116-E) monitor-Derivative of M3-I (HEM 7051-E) - £47.25
  • Omron MX2 Basic monitor - £44.95
  • Omron M2 (HEM 7117) monitor- Derivative of M3-I (HEM 7051-E) - £52.50
  • Omron M1 Plus monitor - £50.00
  • Omron M1 (HEM 4030-C-E) monitor- Derivative of M1 Plus (HEM 4011-C-E) - £52.50
  • Omron MX3 Plus monitor - £58.67
  • Omron M3 (HEM 7200-E) monitor- Derivative of M3-I (HEM 7051-E) - £62.95
  • Omron M3 Intellisense (HEM-7051-E) monitor - £62.95
  • Omron M4-I monitor - £79.95
  • Omron M6 monitor - £79.99
  • Omron M6 Comfort monitor - £99.95
  • Omron M7 monitor - £99.95
  • Omron M10-IT monitor - £99.95
  • Omron MIT Elite (HEM-7300-WE) monitor- Derivative of Elite 700W (HEM-7300-WZ) - £99.95
  • Omron MIT Elite Plus (HEM 7301-ITKE) monitor- Derivative of Elite 7300W (HEM 7300-EZ) - £119.95
  • Omron R5-I (Wrist monitor) - £99.95
  • Omron R6 (Wrist monitor) - £99.95
  • Omron Elite 7300W monitor- £99.99
  • Omron R7 (Wrist monitor) - £119.95
  • Omron 705CP-II monitor - £149.95
  • Omron 637-IT (Wrist monitor) - £149.95
  • Omron 705IT monitor - £169.95
  • Omron (HEM-907) monitor (validated for use in elderly individuals) - £350.95
Oregon Scientific home blood pressure monitors (fits wrists 13.5-21.5cm)
  • Oregon Scientific BPW810 (Wrist monitor) - £99.00
  • Oregon Scientific BPU 330 monitor - £119.00
Panasonic home blood pressure monitors
  • Panasonic EW3106 monitor - £50-£60
  • Panasonic EW3109 monitor - £70-£80

Proton Healthcare home blood pressure monitors
  • Proton Healthcare 888UP monitor - £54.99
  • Proton Healthcare 888EA monitor - £74.99
  • Proton Healthcare 888JA Healthcare monitor - £74.99
  • Proton Healthcare 868BF Healthcare monitor - £139.99
Seinex (also known as Fore-Care) home blood pressure monitor (S, St and L cuffs available to buy)
  • Seinex (Fore-Care) SE-9400 monitor - £39.99
Sensacare home blood pressure monitor
  • Sensacare SAW102 (Wrist monitor) - not currently sold in the UK
Stabil-O-Graph home blood pressure monitor (St, L and XL cuffs available to buy)
  • Stabil-O-Graph monitor – £69.90
Visocor home blood pressure monitor
  • Visocor HM40 (Wrist monitor) - not currently sold in the UK

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