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How to buy a good quality home blood pressure monitor

You are here: Home / Programs / Take care of your blood pressure / How to buy a good quality home blood pressure monitor

How to buy a good quality home blood pressure monitor

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How to buy a good quality home blood pressure monitor

We recommend that you obtain an at home blood pressure cuff to help guide your care and keep you and baby safe  If you have a Flexible Spending Account, or FSA, use can use the FSA to buy a blood pressure monitor.

Below are our recommendations for purchasing a reliable blood pressure cuff that’s not too expensive.

It’s important to use a blood pressure monitor that has been validated. You can find validated monitors by visiting the Validate BP web site. 

Please do not buy a wrist cuff before talking to your healthcare provider.

To make sure your cuff will fit, please measure your arm circumference:

  1. Position the Arm Correctly
    • Sit or stand with the arm relaxed and hanging at the side.
    • The palm should be facing up.
  2. Find the Midpoint
    • Locate the midpoint between:
      • The bony top of the shoulder
      • The tip of the elbow
    • You can eyeball this or use a tape measure to find the halfway point.
  3. Wrap the Tape Around the Arm
    • Wrap the measuring tape horizontally around the arm at the midpoint.
    • Ensure it is snug but not tight (no indentation in the skin).
    • Record the measurement in centimeters (cm).

Once you purchase or receive a blood pressure cuff, please bring it to your next in person office visit so we can teach you how to use it and compare the reading to our blood pressure machine.

If your arm measures 22 to 42 cm, or 9 to 17 inches, you will be able to use a one-size-fits-most cuff.

Most home blood pressure monitors will fit. Check the box, or the information on the web site, to make sure.

These validated Omron home monitors cost about $35:

Amazon: Omron Iron Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor

Target or Walmart: OMRON 3 Series Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor and Arm Cuff

If your arm measures 43 to 56 cm, or 17 to 22 inches, you will need an extra-large cuff. 

Homedics makes an extra-large cuff that is compatible with their validated Upper Arm 500 Series blood pressure monitor:

Walmart: Homedics Upper Arm 500 Series Blood Pressure Monitor and Homedics XL Upper Arm Cuff

Cómo comprar un monitor para la presión arterial (tensiómetro) de buena calidad para casa

How to buy a good quality home blood pressure monitor

Le recomendamos que adquiera un tensiómetro de uso doméstico para que le ayude a orientar sus cuidados y garantizar su seguridad y la de su bebé. Si tiene una cuenta de gasto flexible o FSA, puede usarla para comprar un tensiómetro.

A continuación se recogen nuestras recomendaciones para la compra de un tensiómetro fiable que no sea muy costoso.

Es importante usar un tensiómetro que haya sido validado. Puede encontrar tensiómetros validados aquí: https://www.validatebp.org

Por favor, no compre un tensiómetro de muñeca antes de hablar con su médico.

Para asegurarse de que su tensiómetro le quede bien, por favor, asegúrese de medirse la circunferencia del brazo.

  1. Posicione el brazo correctamente
    • Siéntese o párese con el brazo relajado y colgando al lado.
    • La palma de la mano debe estar orientada hacia arriba.
  2. Localice el punto medio  
    • Localice el punto medio entre:
      • La punta huesuda superior del hombro
      •  La punta del codo
    • Puede hacerlo a ojo o usar una cinta métrica para localizar el punto medio.
  3. Envuelva la cinta alrededor del brazo
    •   Envuelva la cinta de medir horizontalmente alrededor del brazo por el punto medio.
    • Asegúrese de que quede ajustada pero no apretada (que no deje marca en la piel).
    •  Registre la medida en centímetros (cm).

Cuando haya comprado o recibido el tensiómetro, por favor, tráigalo a su próxima visita presencial para que podamos enseñarle cómo usarlo y comparar las mediciones con nuestro aparato de presión arterial.

Si el brazo le mide de 22 a 42 cm, o de 9 a 17 pulgadas, podrá usar un manguito de talla única.

La mayoría de los tensiómetros le quedarán bien. Lea la caja o la información del sitio web para asegurarse.

Estos tensiómetros domésticos Omron validados cuestan unos $35:

Amazon: Omron Iron Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor

Target o Walmart: OMRON 3 Series Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor and Arm Cuff

Si el brazo le mide de 43 a 56 cm, o de 17 a 22 pulgadas, necesitará un manguito de talla extragrande.

Homedics fabrica un manguito extragrande compatible con sus tensiómetros validados Upper Arm 500 Series:

Walmart: Homedics Upper Arm 500 Series Blood Pressure Monitor y Homedics XL Upper Arm Cuff

Download a copy of this handout, in English and Spanish, to print and share.

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Research reported on this website was funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Award PARTNER-2023C1-31062-PS1. The views and statements on this website are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), its Board of Governors or Methodology Committee.

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