Home blood pressure monitors

What it is

• Home monitoring is also called self-measured blood pressure, and it uses a home device to measure at different times.
• Home monitors are sold widely and do not need a prescription.
• A monitor has an inflatable cuff that squeezes the arm as it fills with air.

Sources: CDC: Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring ↗ · Mayo Clinic: Get the most out of home blood pressure monitoring - Mayo Clinic ↗

How it works

As the cuff lets out air, the device measures heart rate and how well blood moves through the arm artery.

Source: Mayo Clinic: Get the most out of home blood pressure monitoring - Mayo Clinic ↗

What people use it for

• People use home monitors to help their healthcare team learn if treatment is working.
• Home checks can help confirm a diagnosis of high blood pressure.
• Self-monitoring might help people feel more motivated to control their blood pressure.

Sources: Mayo Clinic: Get the most out of home blood pressure monitoring - Mayo Clinic ↗ · American Heart Association: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring ↗

What the research has found so far

The CDC says strong scientific evidence shows home monitoring plus clinical support helps people with hypertension lower their blood pressure. That study found home monitoring was more frequent with age, body mass index, and number of health care visits.

Sources: CDC: Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring ↗ · CDC ↗

On home blood pressure monitors and aging, PubMed lists 1,350 trials in people, 2,157 studies that watched people over time, 2 animal and lab studies. See the counts and searches

Who should be careful

• Home monitors might not give the correct reading for people with irregular heartbeats.
• A cuff of the wrong size will cause an inaccurate reading.
• The pages say blood pressure medicine should not be stopped without checking with a healthcare professional, whatever the home readings.

Sources: Mayo Clinic: Get the most out of home blood pressure monitoring - Mayo Clinic ↗ · American Heart Association: Home Blood Pressure Monitoring ↗

Approval and legal status

Home blood pressure monitors are sold without a prescription.

Source: Mayo Clinic: Get the most out of home blood pressure monitoring - Mayo Clinic ↗

Questions to ask your doctor

• Would home blood pressure monitors be useful for me, and what should I do with the readings?
• Which type or model would you trust, and how do I use it so the readings are accurate?
• Could I bring it to an appointment to check it against your equipment?
• How often should I share the results with you, and which numbers should make me call?