Why You Should Think Twice Before Buying a Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor
Home blood pressure monitoring is essential for managing heart health. But when it comes to choosing a device, not all options are equal. While wrist blood pressure monitors may seem convenient, there's a compelling case for opting instead for validated upper-arm models. Let’s get to it! 1. Accuracy Concerns with Wrist Monitors • Wrist monitors are highly sensitive to positioning. If your wrist isn’t exactly at heart level, readings can be significantly skewed. You must align the cuff precisely with the radial artery and keep your wrist still to even attempt accuracy. • A clinical study found that wrist readings were on average 16 mmHg higher systolic / 6 mmHg higher diastolic than standard upper-arm readings—a substantial divergence. • Another analysis concluded that wrist self-measurement often leads to falsely elevated…
