Reviews of the most popular blood pressure monitors

When you have your BP taken in your healthcare provider’s office, he or she probably wraps a cuff around your arm and then pumps on a bulb while looking at a watch and the numbers on what’s called a sphygmomanometer. Fortunately, it’s much easier to take your own blood pressure at home, thanks to today’s automatic blood pressure monitors. You will still have to wrap that blood pressure cuff around your arm but then all you have to do is push a button and wait for your results.

Today’s blood pressure monitors come in two types – wrist type and those that you use on your upper arm.

Click here for reviews of wrist type blood pressure monitors

Click here for reviews of upper arm blod pressur monitors

Why monitoring your blood pressure is vital to your well being

Blood pressure is one of your bodies most vital signs. If you have a high blood pressure or low blood pressure, it can mean serious problems.

For example, high blood pressure can cause a number of problems, not the least of which is a stroke or a heart attack. And low blood pressure may mean  that your heart and brain aren’t getting enough oxygen.  We know people with low blood pressure who have just gotten up from a chair and fainted dead away as their brains were oxygen starved.

If you go to your health care provider regularly, you have probably seen  that the first thing he or she does is take your blood pressure–it’s just that important.

What are those blood pressure numbers?

Blood pressure numbers are usually expressed as a fraction such as 135/80.  The first number is your systolic pressure and the 2nd is your diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is the pressure that your heart puts on your blood vessels when it beats. Diastolic is the amount of pressure on your blood vessels when your heart is at rest.

Your healthcare provider will be able to take your blood pressure to let you know if its abnormally high or low. In this is the case, you need to start monitoring your BP (blood pressure) on a continuing basis.

The importance of tracking your blood pressure

If you are told that you have high blood pressure or low blood pressure, it’s important that you use a good blood pressure monitor to track your blood pressure. That’s the only way you can know how you’re doing – whether or not you’re keeping your blood pressure where it needs to be.

A normal blood pressure

Healthcare providers typically consider 120/82 be a normal blood pressure. However, your “normal” low-pressure will also depend on factors such as your size, weight, genetics and exercise. Some people are genetically predisposed to have low blood pressure while others are cursed with congenitally high blood pressure.