Figures taken from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, suggest the following guidelines when considering your blood pressure:

Digital Home Blood Pressure Monitors

When your doctor measures your blood pressure, a cuff is inflated around your upper arm, and then slowly deflated while the doctor listens with a stethoscope for the appearance and then subsequent disappearance of “tapping noises”.   These will tell your doctor your blood pressure, with a high level of accuracy.  Unfortunately some people suffer from white coat syndrome which means that at the doctor’s office, their blood pressure might be higher than normal.  I myself suffer this problem, and have found that a home meter gives me an accurate measurement, while eliminating the stress of the doctor’s office.

Two types of home blood pressure monitors

• Wrist meters where the cuff goes around your wrist.
• Upper arm cuff meters.

I have tried both and find the upper arm cuff monitors to be the most accurate.

Where to Buy Blood Pressure monitors

With these personal monitors being relatively cheap and yet highly accurate, we recommend you buy one to use at home. This will prevent “White Coat Syndrome” where your blood pressure is elevated just because you visit the doctors. However, when you get your, you must visit your doctor to check its accuracy.

Note: When taking your own blood pressure

1. Do not wear tight fitting clothes on your arm. When you fit the cuff, your rolled up sleeve should not be constricting your arm at all. If in doubt, take off your top.
2. Empty your bladder before sitting down to take a reading.
3. Don’t drink coffee for at least an hour before measuring your blood pressure.
4. Don’t smoke for at least 1 hour before.
5. Sit for at least 5 minutes with your back supported and your feet flat on the ground prior to taking your blood pressure. Also support your arm on a table at heart height.
6. Take 2 readings no less than two minutes apart, and find the average.

Our recommended supplier of blood pressure monitors usually has the following blood pressure monitors & accessories in stock:

Upper Arm Cuff Monitors

HoMedics Manual Inflate Blood Pressure Monitor BPS-060
by HoMedics - $30.99
The HoMedics Manual Inflate Blood Pressure Monitor Model BPS-060 is a manually inflatable blood pressure monitor that features automatic deflation large readout and up to 60 recordings stored in the internal memory. This manual inflate blood pressure monitor offers accurate blood pressure and pulse measurements quickly and easily.Ref BPS-060

Omron Manual Blood Pressure Monitor with Large Cuff HEM-422CRLC
by Omron Healthcare, Inc. - $45.49
With Omron Manual Blood Pressure Monitor HEM-422CRLC accurate blood pressure and pulse rate are just a squeeze away. HEM-422 CRLC comes with Large Cuff for arm circumference of 13quot; to 17quot;. Track Your Progress... with 14 Memory Recall.

ReliaMed Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor - ZBP500AR
by ReliaMed - $47.59
The Reliamed Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor ZBP500AR is a top quality monitor with many great features including automatic inflate and measurement of systolic blood pressure diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate.

Omron Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor - HEM-712C
by Omron Healthcare, Inc. - $49.99
The Omron Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor HEM-712C features Intelli Sense Technology for more accurate more comfortable readings. Features simple silent one touch operation. 2 Year Warranty.

Mabis Semi-Automatic Digital Blood Pressure Monitor 04-340-000
by Mabis Healthcare, Inc. - $51.79
Mabis Semi-Automatic Digital Blood Pressure Monitor comes with a Wide-Range Cuff. Features memory recall stores up to 60 readings a large digital display and quick air exhaust valve. Wide Range Cuff fits arm size 8-58quot; - 10quot;.

HealthSmart RX Digital Blood Pressure Arm Monitor
by HealthSmart RX - $54.89
The HealthSmart RX Digital Blood Pressure Arm Monitor provides clinical accuracy for you on large easy to read display all from the convenience of home! Home blood pressure monitoring combined with regular measurements taken at your doctors office can give you an accurate evaluation of your health and help with important decisions that need to be made.

Omron Womens Advanced Blood Pressure Monitor - Upper Arm - 7300W
by Omron Healthcare, Inc. - $67.49
The Omron Womens Advanced Blood Pressure Monitor is designed to meet the needs of todays active woman including during pregnancy. It features an easy one-touch operation and stores up to 84 test results.

Omron Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor - HEM-711AC
by Omron Healthcare, Inc. - $67.79
The Omron Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor HEM-711AC features Intelli Sense Technology for more accurate more comfortable readings. Up to 40 percent faster than other monitors extra large display advanced diagnostics durable arm cuff. 5 Year Warranty.

Omron Deluxe Blood Pressure Monitor with ComFit Cuff - HEM-711DLX
by Omron Healthcare, Inc. - $67.99
The Omron Deluxe Blood Pressure Monitor HEM-711DLX features Intelli Sense Technology for more accurate more comfortable readings. Up to 2.5 times faster than other monitors Comfit Cuff extra large display advanced diagnostics durable arm cuff. 5 Year Warranty.

Omron Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor - featuring ComFit Cuff - HEM-780
by Omron Healthcare, Inc. - $79.69
Omron Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor HEM-780 is featuring ComFit Cuff with Sigma Technology. HEM-780 uses IntelliSense Technology for Accuracy. 1 Omron Healthcare, Inc. Recommended Pharmacists and Doctors. quot;Doctors Officequot; Accuracy and Reliability. Simple Silent One-Touch Automatic Operation.

Omron Ultra Premium Blood Pressure Monitor with ComFit Cuff - HEM-790IT
by Omron Healthcare, Inc. - $79.99
The Omron Ultra Premium Blood Pressure Monitor with ComFit Cuff HEM-790IT features Intelli Sense Technology for more accurate more comfortable readings. Up to 40 percent faster than other monitors extra large display 2-User 200 memory detects morning hypertension.

Wrist Monitors

Omron Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor with IntelliSense HEM-629
by Omron Healthcare, Inc. - $52.99
Omron Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor - HEM-629 with IntelliSense Technology. Omron Blood Pressure Monitors are 1 Omron Healthcare, Inc. Recommended Pharmacists and Doctors. quot;Doctors Officequot; Accuracy and Reliability. Simple and Compact for Use Anywhere.

Omron Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor with IntelliSense HEM-609
by Omron Healthcare, Inc. - $53.99
Omron Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor - HEM-609 with IntelliSense Technology. Omron Blood Pressure Monitors are Recommended by More Doctors and Pharmacists... the Worlds 1 Omron Healthcare, Inc.. Clinically Proven Accuracy. Track Your Progress... 90 Memory Recall.

Omron Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor with A.P.S. - HEM-650
by Omron Healthcare, Inc. - $68.30
Omron offers an easy and convenient way to monitor your blood pressure with its HEM-650 Wrist Blood Pressure Monitoring system. Wrist blood pressure monitors are portable accurate and simple to use. They provide a convenient choice for those who want a second unit for away from home or who have trouble placing a cuff on their arm.

Omron Ultra Premium Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor with A.P.S - HEM-670IT
by Omron Healthcare, Inc. - $99.99
The Omron Ultra Premium Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor featuring A.P.S. is easy to use detects irregular heartbeat and detects morning hypertension. Includes Omron Health Management Software. 100 total memory.