How to choose a home blood pressure monitor

Source: Stealth Health, Reader’s Digest Canada

If you decide to monitor your blood pressure at home, you will need to get a home blood pressure monitor. But there’s a wide range available, so how do you know which is best? Talk to your doctor or pharmacist when you’re choosing a monitor, as they’ll be able to help you select the best model for you. Opt for a monitor that measures your blood pressure at your upper arm rather than at your wrist or finger in order to get the most accurate results.

Here’s some advice about other features to look for in a home blood pressure monitor:

‘ Get the right size cuff. Measure around your bare arm halfway between your shoulder and elbow to find your size.

‘ Select a monitor that is endorsed by the Canadian Hypertension Society. The sentence "Recommended by the Canadian Hypertension Society" will appear somewhere on the box or in the manual. See www.hypertension.ca for a list of CHS-endorsed monitors.

‘ Choose a monitor you can afford. Monitors vary in price and some of the more expensive models may include features that you don’t need.

‘ Keep your monitor calibrated to make sure the reading is accurate. Send it back to the manufacturer or take it in to your healthcare provider every year to get it recalibrated.

Don’t miss out! Sign up for our free weekly newsletters and get nutritious recipes, healthy weight-loss tips, easy ways to stay in shape and all the health news you need, delivered straight to your inbox.