Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor (BP Wrist Monitor) (2024)

When using a wrist blood pressure machine for home use it is important to follow certain steps to get accurate results. Here's a simple guide:

1. Prepare Yourself: Sit with your back supported and both feet on the ground. Do not eat, drink, or smoke at least 30 minutes before you take a reading.
2. Position Your Arm: Put your arm on a table or a surface on which your wrist is at heart level. Accuracy really depends on this step.
3. Apply the Cuff Correctly: Wrap the cuff of the wrist blood pressure monitor uk around your wrist but don’t make it too tight. One finger should be able to pass between the cuff and your wrist.
4. Take the Measurement: Turn on the device and sit or lie still and quiet as it fills and measures your blood pressure.
5. Take Multiple Readings: In order to get the most accurate reading, take approximately two readings, one minute apart, then calculate the average.

By taking these steps you will help to ensure your BP wrist monitor works for you when taking them at home.

For measuring using a blood pressure wrist monitor, most people recommend measuring from the non-dominant wrist. This wrist is usually less used and is more consistent. But for some people with conditions that affect circulation, it may be helpful to check each wrist and consult a doctor to see which wrist is a more reliable reading. When tracking your blood pressure over time using the same wrist for consistency is also advised.

But how tight should a blood pressure wrist cuff be? The wrist cuff BP monitor should fit snugly around your wrist, but not poking too tight. In addition, if the cuff is too loose, that could lead to false readings; too tight could be uncomfortable or produce inaccurate results.

Westhoff, T. H., Schmidt, S., Meissner, R., Zidek, W., & Van Der Giet, M. (2008). The impact of pulse pressure on the accuracy of wrist blood pressure measurement. Journal of Human Hypertension, 23(6), 391–395. https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2008.150
O’Shea, J., & Murphy, M. (2000). Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: which arm? Journal of Human Hypertension, 14(4), 227–230. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1000998
American Heart Association (2017). Monitoring your blood pressure at home. Retrieved from www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings/monitoring-your-blood-pressure-at-home