12 best blood pressure monitors for your home in the UK

It's so important to keep a good eye on our blood pressure, so that's why you need the best blood pressure monitor to track it at home. They're one of the easiest-to-use gadgets for monitoring your health at home so if you're concerned about the levels of your blood pressure, we'd recommend having one for peace of mind.

Known as the 'silent killer', around a third of Brits in the UK suffer from high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. It is the second biggest risk factor for premature death and disability. Symptoms of high blood pressure could be due to, "stress, diet, a lack of exercise or environmental toxicity," says Rory Batt, MSc Personalised Nutritionist.

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Additionally, Cheryl Lythgoe, Matron at Benenden Health says, "The real danger with blood pressure comes when we ignore it or don’t see it as important. As symptoms aren’t always easy to spot, without an accurate reading you could be in danger of missing out on a vital indication that you are at risk of a serious medical condition."

To help us keep on top of our blood pressure readings at home, there are plenty of choices on the high street and online, such as blood pressure watches and at-home blood pressure monitors. They're designed to be simple to use so the whole family can use them in the comfort of your own home. Take a look at our top picks below to discover the best blood pressure monitor for you and your loved ones.

Best blood pressure monitors at a glance:

• Best overall blood pressure monitor: OMRON M3 Comfort Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor – view on Argos
• Best easy-to-use blood pressure monitor: Boots Pharmaceuticals Blood Pressure Monitor – view on Boots
• Best app-enabled blood pressure monitor: QardioArm Smart Blood Pressure Monitor – view on Amazon UK

Best blood pressure monitors

FAQs

Why is checking your blood pressure so important?

One in three people in the UK has high blood pressure or hypertension, but many aren't aware of it. Most people with high blood pressure have no symptoms and the only way to find out is to be measured.

Cheryl Lythgoe, Matron at Benenden Health, says, "Checking – and understanding - your blood pressure can be a really simple, yet hugely important activity in monitoring and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

People shouldn’t be afraid to get checked out as it is simple to do and even if your reading is outside of the normal threshold, blood pressure can be managed to minimise the threat of associated health risks."

"We shouldn’t ignore our wider health and would encourage people to find out their reading either by visiting their GP or pharmacy or by purchasing a machine themselves at a very reasonable price," continues Cheryl, "Therefore, we highly recommend regular monitoring and if you do have any concerns, that you visit your GP and have a test.”

Checking your blood pressure with a BP monitor device can help reduce your risk of heart attacks and strokes. You can also use an NHS-approved oximeter to measure the oxygen levels in your blood. You can seek advice from your GP if you find your blood pressure is too high. Additionally, you can find out more about high blood pressure at the British and Irish Hypertension Society.

How to read your blood pressure at home

Nutritionist, Rory Batt MSc, BSc from Marvin's Den advises, "Don't drink caffeine, alcohol, smoke or exercise within half an hour of measuring. Make sure your bladder is empty before you measure, and relax and sit still for five minutes beforehand.

"Use a cuff that correctly fits your arm, as one that is too small will skew the reading. Sit upright, with your feet on the floor and keep your arm at heart level. Finally, measure your blood pressure at the same time each day to keep readings consistent with your lifestyle."

You may have heard your GP reading out your blood pressure before with two figures. Both of these numbers are really important when it comes to your blood pressure. A blood pressure monitor will give you two readings.

Systolic pressure is the pressure when your heart pushes blood out

Diastolic pressure is the pressure when your heart rests between beats

As a general guide, use the below for reference:

Normal blood pressure is considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg

High blood pressure is considered to be 140/90mmHg or higher

Low blood pressure is considered to be 90/60mmHg or lower

Can I use apps to monitor my blood pressure?

You can track your blood pressure with ease with these handy apps for your smartphone and other devices. These apps are fantastic for tracking your blood pressure history, for doctor's appointments or emailing results to your GP.

If you're concerned about your blood pressure, contact your GP or visit the NHS website for more information.

Meet The Experts

Cheryl Lythgoe, Matron at Benenden Health is an Advanced Nurse Practitioner who has a wealth of experience in diagnosing and managing many health conditions. Cheryl Lythgoe MSc joined Benenden Health in December 2018 following 15 years working in primary care.

Nutritionist, Rory Batt MSc, BSc from Marvin's Den is a nutritionist who uses functional medicine to establish the root cause of illness to achieve optimal health. He enjoys using his skills to develop products, services and systems that can help individuals achieve lasting health in a targeted and personalised way.

Lorna White is a Senior Digital Writer at Yours.co.uk. She was previously a writer at Yours Magazine writing features and news stories before joining the digital team. Lorna loves the great British countryside and likes to spend her spare time out and about in her home of Nottinghamshire walking her dog, Pippin.