The highest number is always the systolic pressure and it's always given first. For example, a blood pressure given as "120 over 80" or 120/80mmHg means a systolic pressure of 120mmHg and a diastolic pressure of 80mmHg. Understanding your blood pressure reading Your GP may suggest 24-hour or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) if they think you may have high blood pressure (hypertension).

At the beginning of the test, testers had their blood pressure taken by Dr. Huma U. Sheikh, using a hospital-grade blood pressure monitor to compare to the blood pressure monitors for accuracy and consistency. We loved that this device was incredibly easy to set up—plug the cuff into the device and you’re ready to take your reading. We noted that the Omron Platinum was very sensitive to movement, which triggered an error message during a reading. It took us a few trials to figure this out; the machine did not explicitly say that the added movement caused the error message to appear. Despite this minor inconvenience, this device performed well overall and had the best display. This blood pressure monitor also features an irregular heartbeat detector and comes with a convenient carry bag. You can choose to operate this machine using its built-in micro USB port or install 4 AA batteries.Real-time data can be synced, stored, and shared with the iHealth NEO Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor. The app allows unlimited storage and information can be easily exported to your care provider as a PDF, CSV, or XLS. The rechargeable battery connects via USB and allows up to 130 measurements on a full charge. Complete with Bluetooth connectivity, this lightweight, travel-friendly machine is compatible with both Apple and Android devices. high blood pressure is considered to be 135/85 or higher if your reading was taken at home, or 140/90mmHg or higher if your reading was taken at a pharmacy, GP surgery or clinic If you are searching for a fully automatic blood pressure monitor that is easy to use, the Cazon Upper Arm device could make an excellent choice. It has a simple one-button operation and provides you with accurate blood pressure readings. Features Mark L. Myer, MD, FACP, FACC, a New York-based cardiologist at Mount Sinai Hospital and founder of Madison Avenue Cardiovascular, a private practice in Manhattan Your whole family can use it, too: This digital blood pressure monitor pairs wirelessly with up to eight phones or tablets at any given time (let's see a manual blood pressure monitor do that!). Each time you use the digital monitor, the QardioArm averages three readings; monitors and detects an irregular heartbeat; and stores all your measurements and notes in Qardio's HIPAA-compliant cloud.

The cuff is usually wrapped around your upper arm and filled with air until it feels tight. This can feel uncomfortable but it only lasts a few seconds.

Understanding your blood pressure reading

Power Source: Batteries | Number of Readings Stored: 99 on device, Unlimited in-app | Number of Users For Data Storage: 1 | Weight: 15.5 oz Why We Like It Power Source: Batteries or AC adapter | Number of Readings Stored: 60 per user | Number of Users for Data Storage: 2 | Weight: 25.6 oz Why We Like It During the test, our testers noted if the cuff adjusted comfortably to fit well around the arm or wrist. We also rated each device for how clearly it displayed results, how easy it was to access stored results (and whether it could store measurements for multiple users), and how portable the monitor was.