What is a blood pressure monitor?
If you have high blood pressure, these devices can help you monitor your efforts to reduce it and can provide your doctor with additional, valuable information. If your blood pressure is normal, the monitors can help you reassure it remains healthy to prevent occurrences of stroke, hypertension and low pressure. Omron blood pressure monitor for wrist and arm 2020 are clinically validated to ensure accuracy, and are equipped with the Intellisense technology for fast, comfortable measurements.
Your monitoring routine will become a seamless part of your day with a number of features in our monitors, including irregular heartbeat detection, morning hypertension tracking, an LED positioning sensor and a cuff wrap guide. Some of the monitors come with an Intelli Wrap Cuff which ensures 360-degree accuracy no matter how the cuff is wrapped around your arm, and some can also be used with the OMRON connect and OMRON Health Skill for Alexa to track and share blood pressure readings.
Why you need blood pressure monitoring device at home
High blood pressure can increase your risk of heart attack, stroke and other conditions, making it important that you take steps to get levels under control. Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and prescribe medication to address hypertension. In order to check how well your treatment plan is working, it is often necessary to check your blood pressure levels at home. By recording the numbers and sharing them with your doctor, they can determine whether changes need to be made in your medication or if additional lifestyle modifications are necessary to lower your blood pressure.
Which one is better – Manual vs Automatic
There are two main types of blood pressure monitors: manual and automatic.
- Manual blood pressure monitors consist of a cuff, an inflation bulb and a gauge that you read by looking at a pointer on the dial. Manual blood pressure monitors also require the use of a stethoscope to listen to the blood pulsing through the artery. They can be hard to use and are not the recommended type of blood pressure monitor for home use. Automatic blood pressure monitors were developed as a simple way to quickly check your blood pressure at home. With automatic devices, you slip on a cuff and press a button to start your blood pressure reading. The cuff automatically inflates and deflates. Your blood pressure reading is then displayed on a digital screen.
- Automatic Blood Pressure Monitors – There are many automatic blood pressure monitors on the market. Monitors can measure blood pressure at the upper arm, wrist, or finger, depending on the model. Automatic arm blood pressure monitors have a cuff that wraps around the upper arm. The American Heart Association recommends the use of automatic cuff-style upper arm monitors to keep track of blood pressure at home. Monitors that wrap around the wrist or finger to measure blood pressure aren’t recommended because they deliver less reliable results. People who cannot wear a cuff around their arms due to sizing issues or discomfort should ask their doctor about other blood pressure monitor options.
Even you can Ask Alexa about your blood pressure
With the OMRON Health skill for Amazon Alexa, you can easily monitor and track your blood pressure readings over time while receiving daily reminders, important notifications, and useful tips to keep your heart healthy. Just ask Alexa (with Omron blood pressure monitor for wrist and arm 2020)
Here are some of the many questions you can ask Alexa using the Omron Health skill:
Check Blood Pressure.
“Alexa, what is my blood pressure?”
Check your Blood Pressure Monthly Average.
“Alexa, what was my blood pressure average this month?”
Receive Blood Pressure Guidelines.
“Alexa, what is the correct posture when taking a blood pressure reading?”
Compare Readings.
“Alexa, compare my readings across the first week of this month and the second week of this month.”
Omron has an app – Blood Pressure Companion
Make the most out of your devices with OMRON apps. They make it easy to track your health and include features that allow you to view your blood pressure at any time, track your log history and check for patterns, and email data to your family or physicians (Omron blood pressure monitor for wrist and arm 2020)
How to buy best blood pressure monitors in 2020
Comfort vs. accuracy
This should be one of the first things you should think about before buying a blood pressure monitor. Generally speaking, the more comfortable a blood pressure monitor is, the less accurate it becomes. The most precise type of blood pressure monitor is the kind that measures from your upper arm. The problem is that some people are sensitive to the way that blood pressure monitors apply pressure there. Blood pressure monitors that measure from the wrist are easier to use, smaller and more comfortable, but can be inaccurate if you don’t use them correctly (like Omron blood pressure monitor for wrist and arm 2020).
Digital vs. analog
The main benefit of manual blood pressure monitors is that they don’t require an external power source. Since they don’t have any electronic parts, they tend to last longer and are handy in emergency situations. However, if you have bad eyesight or are hard of hearing, they can be difficult to use. People with arthritis may struggle to use a manual blood pressure monitor’s hand pump, which inflates the cuff.
Portability and storage
How much space do you have to store your device? If your answer was “not much,” you may want to go with a wrist blood pressure monitor. These tend to be much smaller than blood pressure monitors that are designed to take measurements from the upper arm area (Omron blood pressure monitor for wrist and arm 2020).
Arm size
If you lift weights or just happen to have big arms, you may need an extra large blood pressure monitor cuff. Measure your arms with measuring tape before you buy. If your arm is more than 16 inches around, you probably won’t be able to fit into a standard size blood pressure cuff.
Do you plan to share your blood pressure device with a loved one?
If you and your spouse are both interested in keeping track of blood pressure, you may want to consider buying a digital blood pressure monitor that can store readings for two different people. Otherwise, you’ll probably need to buy two separate devices.
Do you need to be connected to the internet to use it?
All the electronic blood pressure monitors mentioned above have built-in internal storage. This feature is handy because it lets you use your device when you’re not connected to the internet. Some digital blood pressure monitors won’t work without an internet connection.
Ease of use
Electronic blood pressure monitors (Omron blood pressure monitor for wrist and arm 2020) are easy to use compared to manual ones. All you have to do is press a button, and the machine takes care of the rest. If you’ve never checked your blood pressure before, you may want to get a device that has a color-coded indicator on the interface. This feature is useful for learning how to interpret your results.
Omron Blood Pressure Monitor for wrist
- OMRON RS7 Intelli IT Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor – The OMRON RS7 Intelli IT makes it easy to accurately measure your blood pressure whatever your body type. As you put the monitor on, the cuff wrap guide will let you know you’ve put the device on correctly. And the positioning sensor will show when it’s in the right position to take an accurate reading. While the device takes your blood pressure and pulse rate, it’ll indicate if it’s detected an irregular heartbeat or whether you’re hypertensive. Your readings will then be displayed on the large LCD screen and automatically transferred to a Bluetooth paired smart phone. Taking your blood pressure readings shouldn’t be limited to when you can, at home. The RS7 Intelli IT helps you stay in control throughout the day – even when you’re on the go. It’s small size and virtually silent pump, means it can be discreetly stored and used anywhere.
- Omron RS6 Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor – Measure your blood pressure in style. This portable monitor is discrete. Its thin design and silent operation makes the RS6 easy to take and to use anywhere. Yet it’s packed with features including irregular heat beat detection and movement detection. All in all it’s ideal for the active person who is always on the go. OMRON offers you true quality, accuracy and reliability. Whether you are looking for an upper-arm or wrist type device, we have the right solution for you.
- OMRON RS3 Intelli IT Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor – The OMRON RS3 Intelli IT smart wrist blood pressure monitor is connected, portable and accurate for all body sizes. Put the RS3 Intelli IT on, raise your wrist to the same height as your heart and get your result in seconds. Your reading will automatically transfer to the OMRON connect app, which will help you start making sense of it all. Easily view and follow your progress over time as you start taking control of your heart’s health.
- RS2 Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor – Easy to use – exactly what you need from a blood pressure monitor. This monitor features an array of early health warning sensors that will give you valuable insights into the health and well-being of your circulatory system. The hypertension indicator lights up if your blood pressure exceeds the recommended level, while the irregular heartbeat indicator will switch on if you are suffering from an arrhythmia. Simple but vital safeguards against ill health.
- RS1 Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor – ‘The OMRON RS1 automatic wrist blood pressure monitor is easy, portable and accurate for all body sizes. Measuring your blood pressure from the wrist is a great alternative if you find upper arm cuffs either too small or uncomfortable. The RS1 cuff fits wrist sizes from 13.5 to 21.5 cm – which covers almost everyone. Just slip it on, raise your wrist to be level with your heart and wait for your result. Small and compact, take the RS1 with you and keep on top of your blood pressure throughout the day.’
Here are the best blood pressure monitors you can buy:
- Omron’s 10 Series blood pressure monitor offers excellent all-around value. It’s a mid-range device that’s more accurate than most blood pressure monitors at this price range. Other perks include its large, backlit display and Amazon Alexa compatability.
- Greater Goods’ Blood Pressure Monitor Cuff Kit is designed to meet the needs of people who hate spending a lot of time learning how to use an electronic device. Once you turn it on, all you have to do is put your arm in the cuff and press a button to get started.
- If you don’t like the way most blood pressure monitors make a loud hissing noise, you may want to take a look at Omron’s 7 Series. It’s quiet enough to use discreetly at work or in a public restroom.
- It normally only takes a few minutes for a digital blood pressure monitor to do its job. However, that time starts to add up– especially when you take multiple readings throughout the day. That’s where Care Touch’s Fully Automatic Wrist Blood Pressure Cuff Monitor comes in. It’s faster than most other blood pressure monitors you’ll find, plus it looks nice and is easy to use.
- Omron Evolv is highly accurate because it’s equipped with more sensors than most other digital blood pressure monitors. Its patented algorithm corrects for movements and body posture issues that often cause other devices to generate error messages.
The best value blood pressure monitor
Omron’s 10 Series blood pressure monitor
Omron’s 10 Series blood pressure monitor combines a range of high end features with a surprisingly affordable price tag. The fact that it automatically averages your results when you take your blood pressure three times in a row is especially convenient. If you’re trying to use exercise or medication to bring your blood pressure down, Omron’s free app will help you chart your progress.
Good
- Averages three readings together automatically. Most doctors recommend to take several blood pressure readings in a row when measuring yourself at home. This device does this automatically.
- You can switch between two different users. The switch that’s located on the front of the device lets you instantly switch between two different profiles.
- Track your statistics with Omron’s free app. You can download an unlimited number of readings to Omron’s health app. The device itself holds up to 200 readings.
- Backlit display. The illuminated display makes this device easier to read and use, especially in low light conditions.
- Works with Amazon Alexa. Once you connect, you can ask Alexa blood pressure related questions.
- Use battery power or the included A/C adapter instead. Some blood pressure monitors only use batteries, but this one can also draw power straight from a wall socket.
- User friendly interface. The two-user toggle switch and the convenient start/stop button add to this device’s ease of use.
Bad
- Lacks an irregular heartbeat detector feature. If you’ve recently had heart surgery or intend to monitor for coronary artery disease symptoms, you may be better off with a blood pressure monitor that can check for cardiovascular irregularities.
In a nutshell
If you’re looking for a basic yet high quality blood pressure monitor, Omron’s 10 Series hits all the marks. It doesn’t cost much, but it’s reasonably accurate. Features like the backlit display and Amazon Alexa integration sweeten the deal.
The best wrist blood pressure monitor
Omron’s 7 Series blood pressure monitor
If you intend to check your blood pressure when you’re at home alone or with your family, you may not care if your device makes a lot of noise. However, taking readings at work, while in a restaurant or in other public situations is another story. Omron’s 7 Series blood pressure monitor is designed for discreet use. Because it doesn’t make much noise when it inflates, you can use it almost anywhere.
Good
- Portable and discreet. This device’s most unique feature is its extra quiet inflation motor.
- More comfortable than most blood pressure monitors. It does squeeze your wrist a bit, but the pressure is not as intense as blood pressure monitors that take readings from the upper arm area.
- Guides you into the correct position. A light activates after you’ve achieved the body posture required for optimal accuracy.
- Detects irregular heartbeats. Unlike Ormon’s 10 Series device, the 7 Series can detect arrhythmia and other cardiovascular issues that cause heartbeat irregularities.
- Comes with a convenient storage case. Simply fold up your device and pack it away when you’re not using it.
- Automatically averages your latest readings. Any measurements you take 10 minutes after your first measurement are automatically averaged together.
- Five-year warranty. If you get a lemon, you can send it back to Omron and they’ll either repair or replace your device.
Bad
- No support for Bluetooth or Amazon Alexa. There’s no way to send your blood pressure data to an app or transfer your information to a computer.
In a nutshell
If you’re really serious about tracking your blood pressure, there will probably be occasions where you’ll need to take some readings in public. Omron’s 7 Series lets you do that quietly, without drawing attention to yourself.
The most accurate blood pressure monitor
Omron Evolv
Omron Evolv’s added sensors and patented algorithm makes it even more accurate than the other blood pressure monitors listed above. Most digital blood pressure monitors require you to sit a certain way, but that isn’t the case with Omron Evolv. You can not only position yourself however you like, but also leave your sleeve rolled down when it’s time to take a measurement.
Good
- Your body position doesn’t matter. You don’t need to assume a certain posture– all you have to do is sit still and relax.
- Works with Amazon Alexa. If you own an Amazon Alexa compatible device, you can ask it questions about your heart health once you link it to your Omron Evolv.
- Use the free app to track your health statistics. Omron’s free app lets you upload your health data from your device so that you can look for patterns and send your information to your doctor.
- More accurate than most digital blood pressure monitors. The added sensors and Omron’s patented algorithm add to this device’s accuracy.
- Thin and lightweight. This device has a slimmer profile compared to most other upper arm style blood pressure monitors.
- Set up as many profiles as you like. Most blood pressure monitors limit you to two profiles, but Evolv lets you create as many as you need.
- Remains accurate when used over shirt sleeves. The sensors are sensitive enough to take accurate measurements over most types of clothing.
Bad
- The inflation motor is somewhat noisy. This device is not loud, but may attract unwanted attention if used in a public place.
In a nutshell
If accuracy is your priority, this device is your best option. It doesn’t cost much more than competing devices, yet it is considerably more precise. The fact that you can use it over a shirt sleeve makes it easier to use than most upper arm blood pressure monitors.
The most user-friendly blood pressure monitor
Greater Goods’ Blood Pressure Monitor Cuff Kit
All the blood pressure monitors listed in this article are fairly user friendly, but Greater Goods’ Blood Pressure Monitor Cuff Kit is even more so. The large, bright display is clearly labeled, and a convenient color-coded bar helps you interpret your results. The fact that you can switch between battery power and wall socket power adds flexibility and convenience. Greater Goods’ St. Louis, Missouri-based support staff is standing by to help out if you run into any issues or encounter any problems.
Good
- Intuitive interface. The display is not only large and easy to read, but also organized in a way that makes sense.
- One-button operation. Just click the large start/stop button when you’re ready to take a measurement.
- Two power options. When you run out of batteries, you use the included A/C adapter instead.
- Easy to store and transport. The device, A/C adapter and the cuff can be folded up in the handy storage bag.
- Excellent customer service. People who bought this product often complemented Greater Goods’ support team.
- Timestamps each reading. A date and time gets attached to each blood pressure reading. This information is useful for analyzing blood pressure fluctuations throughout the day.
- Detects irregular heartbeat patterns. In addition to measuring your blood pressure, this device is capable of detecting arrhythmia and other similar conditions.
Bad
- There’s no way to export your results. If you want to use this device with a health app, you have to manually type or write down your results and enter them yourself.
In a nutshell
This blood pressure monitor isn’t fancy, but it gets the job done. If you don’t use medical apps and you just want to monitor your heart health at home, it could be your best option.
The fastest blood pressure monitor
Care Touch’s Fully Automatic Wrist Blood Pressure Cuff Monitor
Care Touch’s Automatic Wrist Blood Pressure Cuff Monitor is both fast and easy to use. The color-coded bar lets you know where you stand instantly, which is especially convenient for beginners. Another nice thing about this device is its display, which is large for a wrist style digital blood pressure monitor.
Good
- 60-second response time. Some blood pressure monitors require several minutes for calculation, but this one will deliver your results in a minute or less.
- Large display. Even though this is a relatively small sized blood pressure monitor, the screen is easy to read.
- Use the color-coded bar to interpret your results. This colored bar lets you know if your blood pressure is within healthy limits.
- Detects irregular heartbeats. Check for signs of a leaky valve and other issues that cause cardiovascular irregularities.
- Small and portable. Measuring just 2.9 inches long and 2.6 inches across, this device is small enough to take with you almost anywhere.
- Fits most wrist sizes. The included cuff can be adjusted to accommodate wrists as small as 5.5 inches around or as large as 8.5 inches around.
- One-year satisfaction guarantee. If for some reason you don’t like it, just return it within a year for a full refund.
Bad
- You need batteries to use it. Batteries are your only option for powering this device. There’s no way to plug it into an A/C adapter.
In a nutshell
Care Touch’s no-questions-asked satisfaction guarantee shows that it believes in this product. The fact that it’s quicker than the competition is an added bonus.
What’s the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure?
A: Systolic pressure is the maximum pressure that your heart creates right after it beats. Diastolic pressure tells you what your blood pressure is between beats. If both numbers are high, that could mean that your aorta is stiff. The difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure is referred to as pulse pressure. A pulse pressure reading that’s greater than 60 sometimes indicates the presence of a leaky valve.
Q: My blood pressure is higher than usual. Should I contact a doctor?
A: According to Harvard Health, if your systolic blood pressure is greater than 180 and/or your diastolic blood pressure exceeds 120, you should contact a doctor immediately.
Q: What time of the day is best for measuring blood pressure?
A: The Mayo Clinic recommends two daily measurements. The first should be in the morning before breakfast and the second should be in the evening before bed.
Tips and tricks
- After you get your blood pressure monitor, you may want to take it to the hospital with you next time you get a check up. This will give you a chance to compare your device to the one your doctor uses. If the readings that your device delivers are way off, you may need to recalibrate.
- Many substances and physical activities can temporarily elevate blood pressure. If you smoke cigarettes or drink coffee or alcohol ahead of a blood pressure reading, you won’t get an accurate picture of what your blood pressure is normally like when you’re at rest.
- Try to be as consistent as possible each time you measure your blood pressure. Don’t switch arms or sit in a different position.
- For improved accuracy, consider taking two or three readings in a row. This way, you can average the three measurements together when you log them. Some digital blood pressure monitors do this automatically.