When a person gets their blood pressure checked at the doctor’s office, it only shows the numbers at that moment. A home blood pressure monitor lets you check your blood pressure regularly, which can give your doctor a better idea of your actual blood pressure. The best way to know if you have high blood pressure is to measure it multiple times a day for a few months.  

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), half of adults in the U.S. should measure their blood pressure at home to ensure their numbers aren’t rising and that their blood pressure medications are working effectively.  

There are many home blood pressure monitors to choose from. Many of them can cost less than a hundred dollars and don’t require a prescription to purchase. They can be found at the pharmacy, a medical supply store, or online.  

There are several features to consider when choosing a home blood pressure monitor, such as: 

• Multiple arm cuffs  

• A risk-category indicator, which shows whether your blood pressure is normal or high 

• An irregular heartbeat detector 

• Multi-user capabilities with downloadable memory 

• A data-averaging function 

• A display with large numbers 

Blood pressure monitors can be worn on the arm or wrist. The two types of blood pressure monitors that use an arm cuff to check your blood pressure include: 

• An aneroid monitor- where you manually wrap a blood pressure cuff around your arm, inflating it using a small hand pump and a stethoscope on your upper arm to listen to your pulse and blood flow 

• A digital monitor- that automatically fills the arm cuff with air and tightens around your arm 

After the blood pressure cuff fills with air, you will let the air out slowly. The sound of your pulse is the systolic pressure, which is the top number in the blood pressure reading. As the sound of your pulse fades and is completely gone, that is the diastolic pressure, the bottom number of the blood pressure reading. A person’s normal blood pressure is 120 over 80 or less, and high blood pressure is 130 over 80 or higher.  

A wrist blood pressure monitor is like an arm monitor because it measures the blood as it flows through the arteries. However, the difference is that a wrist monitor takes measurements at the radial artery, where the wrist connects with the hand. To measure your blood pressure, you will secure the cuff around your wrist and put your elbow on a table. Then, you will put your hand on your chest, making sure your wrist is at heart level, and stay still and relaxed as the monitor takes your blood pressure.  

There are pros and cons to using arm and wrist blood pressure monitors, including: 

• Pros of using arm blood pressure monitors: They provide more accurate readings, and doctors suggest them more often  

• Cons of using arm blood pressure monitors: The arm cuff may not fit well on your upper arm, and certain medical conditions can make it unsafe or painful 

• Pros of using a wrist blood pressure monitor: They are small, lightweight, and can be more comfortable than arm monitors 

• Cons of using a wrist blood pressure monitor: Blood pressure readings are less accurate, and wrist measurements are sensitive to the positioning of your body 

Another type of blood pressure monitor is an ambulatory blood pressure monitor, which measures your blood pressure around the clock, taking readings every 15 to 30 minutes when you’re awake, and every hour while you’re asleep. This monitor helps your doctor get accurate data about your blood pressure, which allows them to make treatment suggestions.  

It is important to note that not all home blood pressure monitors are accurate. That is why it is very important to bring your home blood pressure monitor to your doctor before using it so they can test it against the monitors they use in their office. 

If you would like to learn more about at-home blood pressure monitors, you can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Cardiology Department by calling (718) 206-7100. If you are experiencing an emergency, please dial 911 right away. 

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All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.