Devices for measuring blood pressure are generally referred to as blood pressure monitors, but this term is used to describe a whole range of different instruments. These include the small battery operated models for use in the home to the large and complex machines used in hospitals. Since it is not possible to cover all monitor types in one short article, I will restrict the scope of my blood pressure monitor review to models designed for use by individuals at home.

Blood pressure is a measure of an individual’s state of health and a high reading can be an indication of the condition known as hypertension. For a healthy person 120/80 is the norm, but a reading of 140/90 or above can indicate a problem. This condition should not be left untreated because it can lead to a stroke or heart attack. High blood pressure does not exhibit any obvious symptoms, so the only way it can be diagnosed is by use of a monitor. For this reason regular checks are advised.

Measuring blood pressure is a simple procedure that can be carried out by your doctor or nurse, but if you have your own blood pressure monitor you will be able to make the check at home and save yourself the effort of a visit to the clinic. Some people have been worried that using a wrist monitor may not give a truly accurate reading. However this can be overcome by having your monitor calibrated from the monitor used at the clinic.

While the old fashioned anaeroid monitor used a bulb pump and mechanical dial, all wrist monitors show the results on a digital display. Instead of the bulb battery power is used to inflate the cuff. In this review I will discuss wrist monitors from three manufacturers, Wristech, Braun and Lumiscope.

Certain features are standard on each wrist monitor. These comprise battery operated cuff inflation when you start the check, display of both systolic and diastolic pressure in a digital form and provision for storage of the results together with a record of the date and time the test was carried out. As you would expect most brands have a number of different models and by and large the more you pay the greater number of features you find.

It’s time to review specific models – the Omron HEM-650 Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor with APS. The particular features of this model are Omron’s patented IntelliSense technology, which inflates the wrist cuff to the ideal level for each user and advanced positioning sensor that automatically checks that the cuff is level with the user’s heart to ensure an accurate reading. Includes 90 memory with time and date. The Braun VitalScan Plus Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor. Another large display model with a clean and stylish design. Saves 90 measurements with date and time and has a low battery indicator. The LifeSource Blood Pressure Monitor. This is a small and compact model that is ideal for travel. This monitor stores the last 60 readings in an AM/PM memory allowing you to record variations during the day. It also includes a Pressure Rating Indicator and Irregular Heartbeat detection.

This review has only looked at a few models to give you an idea of what is available. If you are interested in purchasing a wrist blood pressure monitor, you will need to consider other models before you make your final choice, but hopefully this will point you in the right direction.