Hi allI'm considering buying a blood pressure monitor.
There are cheap ones (non branded), mid price ones and expensive ones.
Are the cheap ones any good, or are they cheap and nasty?
There is a mid price one (Beurer) which you put on your wrist that has bluetooth and smart phone app.
There is a more expensive (Omron) with an upper arm cuff, bluetooth and smart phone.
Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks Blake
I have an Omron one with self-inflating upper arm cuff. But i would prefer to have one that I pump up manually with the bulb in hand. I think it's more relaible.
You are right the old style sphygmomanometers are more reliable. You need somebody else to do this for you as you need one hand to pump and the other to hold the stethoscope in place. I did order one last year that you are supposed to be able to use one handed. It was useless and I sent it back.
i didn't realize it required another person
Yes there is only one that I found that you can do yourself. The stethoscope was attached to the cuff and was really hard to hear the pulse. But the worst thing I found was the ear pieces of the stethoscope were very tight and hard plastic. It was really painful and I have a small head 🤣.
aaah my doctor once said about those that his practice manager had better hearing than him so her BP results were more accurate than his. Reassuring eh!!!!!
Yes, the doctors here in South Africa that I consult (GP and Cardio) use the mercury pump type. My GP was horrified when I told her my sister in the UK has phone consultations and has to take her blood pressure herself. My GP firmly believes that the digital type used at home by lay persons very often give inaccurate readings that should not be relied on 100%
yes once my doctor said take my BP 3 times and give him the best if 3 !!!!
Wrist blood pressure devices are not supposed to be so reliable. I have an Omron M3 which also detects AF . I'm more than happy with it.
Omron is worth the extra if you have AF.
I've decided on the Omron HEM7361T Bluetooth upper arm Blood pressure monitor and AFib indicator. Thanks everyone for their replies.
I use the Omron Evolv Intellisense Automatic Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor
EVOLV (HEM-7600T-E)
Works with Omron Smartphone App which records all data detected by the device itself.
Be aware that AF can confuse auto BP monitors and give nonsense results if used during an episode..
this is why I don’t use then I sent one back the other week. You could put the cuff on because of that metal strip through it. If you are on your own you can’t do it. And if you are in AF the reading are not right.Also like the wrist one they can’t pick it up properly.
Yes, big 👍from me for Omron …. I’ve an M2 …. Top arm cuff ….. about £40… advise you read the manual to ensure you know all its functions, as this one also indicates irregular heart beats. I add figures manually to App called BPmonitor. Simple logging app… very straightforward. I’ve got mine in supplied bag along with SPO2 monitor for blood oxygen(good value monitors too, I think) and do before breakfast. Try and sit for quiet minute before doing to settle. Sometimes do in evening if BP has become issue (ie change of meds, for example). Bought another Omron as my first one lasted years and years! Money well spent. Information is invaluable, I just try not to get too obsessive
Take care.
I have the Omron monitor it is very good and allows a link with an app where reports can be created if your doctor wants to see a record of say 7 days.
I have no experience of the ‘cheap’ one but in my experience you get what you pay for.
Pete
Boots are selling off their own monitors for £5 due to rebranding that was yesterday you may be lucky best wishes
I have an omron smart x4 I think is the model. It detects irregular heart rhythm. My GP recommended the omron and I can send my reading by email when they want to see them. In the uk it was about £80.00.
Thanks to all. Omron seems to the consensus. The one I'm looking at from local store is NZ$185 which is GB £95
I'm lucky to have tried several over the years as Amazon send me them to review. The most accurate is the cheapest, I believe - the UK Boots model (I'm not you have Boots the Chemist in New Zealand). It used to get the Which "Best Buy" award.
But by far the easiest to use is the Omron Evolv. That's my "go-to" BPM. and always has been (I actually paid for that one!). The Omron wrist monitors work really well, too - even the lowest price ones and are, whatever others say, the equal these days in accuracy so far as my tests over time show. The lovely looking Braun wrist monitor is excellent also, but was less easy to fit on my larger wrist.
The more expensive models - upper arm or wrist - aren't more accurate, they just come with a smart-phone app that keeps track of your readings. I find that useful but these days, the Apple iPhone has its own, much better, health app and I feel that their data collection is likely the most secure and trustworthy.
My advice is to buy either locally from a trusted pharmacy or Boots, or to get a returned device from Amazon Warehouse at a bargain price, if that's available in NZ. I have done that for three devices for us as well as elderly friends and all have been essentially brand new and perfect products with large savings against even Amazon's new price. As I say, the easiest is the Omron Evolv which, pricey as it is, will last well. It's simply so convenient and comes in a nice compact storage zipper case.
Steve
I had a 'cheap' version that I bought in the local Lidl. It was rubbish. Yes, it worked, but only sometimes. It struggled to get readings most of the time, and in the end I cut up the cuff and destroyed it so it couldn't be used to mislead anyone else.
I bought an Omron, and I'm very happy with it. You don't need the top of the range bluetooth etc. unless that's what you want, the ordinary cheaper models from Omron will work just as reliably and accurately. mine is the M3.
Hi, I bought mine from the local chemist for £20 a couple of years ago, it was a suggestion from the practice nurse who also invited me to bring it in to the surgery on my next visit so that she could compare the readings ( calibate ) with theirs. This gave me confidence in the monitor going forward. I think this is a good tip for all who buy their monitors to have them compared to the surgery monitor. Hope this helps.All the best.
o Ron do simpler less expensive models.
I paid about £45 which includes heart rate and irregular heartbeat monitor as well as the usual plus 2 cuffs. The cheap ones i imagine have fewer features .
We paid over £100 for one that was 'NICE' approved and had the smarts to detect when in AF. Consultant we saw preferred using the old fashioned Mercury based one and a stethoscope.
Definitely go for upper arm cuff, not wrist. They work far better. I have an Omron which is what my GP uses. The boots model is the same and just as good. It depends how many functions you want. Mine just does BO, shows erratic beats and has a decent memory for previous readings; cost around £30. Just make sure to get the right size cuff.
I have one by Withings and I love it. I think it’s from France. I took it my doctor (GP) to test its accuracy and she couldn’t be bothered to know. I would have liked to know.
Hi
Buy from a Chemist.
Take it to Dr to check it.
The band is important thin or fat arm? Usually has weight standards.
I have a microlife and love it. It has a memory which is important.
Also not big and comes with guarantee and bag. Special ($100)NZ
cheri JOY
Omron Evolve -Readings accepted by my GP.
I use one out of France called Withings, it’s all automatic and seems to work just fine. It’s so odd that my GPS office called this afternoon wanting to schedule an appointment to get my BP checked because last time I was in, it was a little high. She asked if I wanted to come in, in person or virtual and do my own reading and let them know what it is. I said how can I be sure mine is accurate? Plus my BP is lower in the evenings and higher in the morning and I have always had a morning appointment. So she scheduled me for a later appointment. I thought it just odd, and especially you all were talking about this.
We have the Boots branded Omron model. £40 approx.
Had it for a few years, and it will detect AF, although I don't need that function
My GP's have the same one with the Omron label
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