Why you need a home blood pressure monitor
Scott Hocking
STACK Senior Editor
Blood pressure checks are a regular part of visiting the doc, but now you can easily perform them at home with a portable blood pressure monitor. Here’s what you need to know about this medical tech that could save your life – can you say sphygmomanometer?
At a glance
How do they work?
How to use them
What the readings mean
Types of cuffs
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common condition that’s a major risk factor for stroke, cardiovascular, and kidney disease. According to the Heart Foundation, one in four Australians has hypertension.
That’s why it’s important to check your blood pressure regularly to detect any signs of elevation, or to manage an existing condition.
Blood pressure is measured using a sphygmomanometer (a great word, but tricky to say), better known as a blood pressure monitor (BPM). Due to the variable nature of BP readings, monitoring it regularly over a long period of time can reveal fluctuations that may indicate hypertension.
That’s where a portable BPM comes in. These affordable, easy to use devices provide the convenience of regular monitoring at home and when travelling, and a history log/timeline can be recorded in the unit’s companion app to be shared with your GP.
How do they work?
Blood pressure is the pressure on your artery walls as the heart pumps blood around your body. A BPM’s inflatable cuff stops the blood flow in your arteries, and as it deflates the monitor detects when flow has resumed (systolic pressure) and circulation is steady (diastolic pressure).
Some units can include an integrated digital stethoscope that listens to the sound of your heart and can alert you to any abnormalities in the rhythm, and also record an ECG that can detect atrial fibrillation.
How to use them
Personal BPMs generally work the same way as a doctor’s device, and it’s recommended to use one that’s been clinically validated for accuracy.*
Simply strap on the cuff, press a button to inflate it, and the monitor does the rest – you’ll have the reading in minutes.
BPMs generally have large displays for easy reading of results, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support connects them to companion apps to log the readings. Plus, individual profiles can be set up for multiple users.
What the readings mean
A blood pressure reading involves two numbers – the higher number is the systolic pressure, which is the pressure in your arteries when the heart muscle contracts. The lower number is the diastolic pressure between beats.
BP is measured in millimetres of mercury (mm Hg); a reading of 120/80 mm Hg is considered normal, while 140/90 mm Hg or above can indicate hypertension.
Putting the cuffs on
BPMs are mostly the traditional upper arm cuff variety, but you’ll also find wrist cuff models that can also measure your pulse.
Upper arm cuffs generally fit a medium-sized limb, and some BPMs can have a universal cuff. Upper arm cuffs are considered to be more accurate than wrist cuffs, which are more sensitive to movement – the wrist must be held level with the heart when reading.
* While health and fitness devices provide largely accurate readings, they are not intended to replace advice from a GP or health professional.
^Discounts apply to previous ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. As we negotiate, products will likely have been sold below ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. Prices may differ at airport stores.
