How to choose the right blood pressure monitor?

Highlights: 

• Why is it important to have an automatic blood pressure monitor at home?
• What to look for when choosing a model?  
• Wrist or biceps, cuff size, memory and other features.
• Which is the right device for your needs?   

Blood pressure is one of the main indicators of our health and often times an indicator that something is wrong with our body and we need to see a doctor. However, in order to "read" the signals correctly, we need a reliable assistant, better known as a blood pressure monitor (BPM).  

It is a misconception that only the elderly have such a device at home. The fact is that hypertension (high blood pressure) affects approximately 30-40% of people over the age of 65. Unfortunately, however, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health institutions are sounding the alarm that the number of young people (under 40) diagnosed with hypertension is increasing. The WHO cites sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, genetic predisposition, stress, alcohol, and smoking as causes.  

All these factors make regular blood pressure measurement at home increasingly important, even for people who do not think they are at risk. Separately, we should also mention the situations in which it would need to be measured on a one-off basis or monitored over a period of time, for example: 

• pregnancy - blood pressure is an important indicator of yours and the baby's condition
• taking certain medications - some medications can significantly affect its values  
• frequent headaches, dizziness - the reason for them can be due to blood pressure
• fatigue, lack of energy and general tiredness - low blood pressure should also not be underestimated
• intense workouts, sudden fluctuations in weight, diets
• Emotional states, job tension, stress  

Automated BPM's make this process easier, faster and accessible to everyone. But which automatic BPM is right for you and what should you look for when choosing one, regardless of if you will use it regularly or only when needed? Below, we'll look at and compare all the main models, similarities and differences between them, and what additional features they offer.  

Choosing an automatic blood pressure monitor - a few simple rules  

Wrist or biceps?

The main difference with automatic BPMs is the area in which the measurement is performed. In the supracarpal models, measurements are taken by placing a cuff on the biceps, while in the others, called wrist models, they are taken by a bracelet that is fastened around the wrist. Bicep models are suitable for everyone, but are mostly preferred by elderly people or those who have proven hypertension and need to use their device regularly.  

The wrist models are smaller, more compact and are a frequent choice for young people who want to have a device at home or able to use it easily on the go. They are not a suitable choice for older people as the blood vessels in the wrist area become more fragile as the years progress, which can lead to inaccurate measurements.

Accuracy, approval, guarantee  

We've already mentioned that BPMs are medical devices that we entrust our health to. It is therefore important that they are clinically tested and approved by various health organisations. For example, Sendo BPMs are approved by the European Hypertension Association, which guarantees their quality and precision.  

Another key factor to consider is the type of warranty any given BPM offers. Blood pressure monitors, like any other electronic equipment, have a manufacturer's warranty of at least 2 years and some models as long as 5 years.  

Size does matters  

The cuff is one of the most important components of any apparatus and it is crucial that it fits you properly. Misalignment in your cuff sizes leads to inaccurate readings which can occur with both smaller cuffs that tighten your arm too much and larger ones that fail to clamp the biceps blood vessels properly. 

Likewise, not placing your cuff properly in place, regardless of if it fits properly will also lead to inaccurate readings. Some of the Sendo models (Advance 2 and Advance 3) have a function which warns users of incorrect placement, where an Error Cuff message will appear on the display and alert you to correct its position.  

Batteries or adapter?  

The answer here is very simple - both. All automatic blood pressure machines run on batteries, making it easy to measure in any situation, no matter where you are. However, when the batteries run out, and you're not prepared with a new set, you can safely take the measurement using a plug-in adapter.  

Important: you may use an adapter or batteries when measuring, but not both at the same time, as this may cause damage or drain the batteries, or damage the device. 

Ease of use, additional features and readable display  

Automatic BPMs are reimagined to make our lives easier and help us maintain quality health from the comfort of our homes. That's why simple designs and ease of use are key factors for devices. That is why all Sendo models have no more than 1-2 buttons to easily take a measurement and access its memory. 

Memory is also among the basic functions of any apparatus. It is an important element that provides you with traceability of your health condition back in time and can give useful information to your doctor.  

Other features include heart rate measurement, arrhythmia detection and analysis, various patented measurement and result analysis technologies, and more.  

Which is the right model for you, based on your needs and the extras it offers?  

Having understood why a blood pressure machine is an important tool for every household, as well as what the main types of automatic devices are, we will now look at the different models provided in the Sendo portfolio. Based on their features and additional extras, you will easily find which is the right choice for your needs.  

Sendo One 

"One device for two users" describes the most important feature of Sendo One, namely that it is designed to be used by two people. Often in a household, the blood pressure monitor has a primary user, but at time another member may need to take a measurement. Or it may be a married couple in which they both monitor their blood pressure daily.  

The Sendo One, where the memory is divided into two, is just right for them. This way, anyone can track how their values are moving over time without being misled by someone else's measurement. Up to 90 records are provided for each user, and after each measurement the readings are saved by pressing one of the two buttons to indicate which user is taking the measurement. 

Sendo One is a classic automatic blood pressure device where the measurement happens via one main button. It has a color scale that will help you orient whether your blood values are normal, low or high. It reads arrhythmic pulse and is validated by the ESH (European Society of Hypertension). 

Sendo Smart 2 

The Sendo Smart 2 wrist monitor can fit into a handbag or glove compartment of a car without a problem. Its compact nature is its main advantage over other automatic blood pressure monitors. Convenient for travelling or for everyday use in any situation, it is a good choice for people up to 50 years old who have a need to monitor their blood pressure. This includes pregnant women, athletes, professional drivers and people on the road, people with a family history of hypertension or those suffering from another medical condition.  

Smart 2 takes readings by being placed on the wrist, which is why it also features a Smart Protect technology - designed to protect the fine blood vessels in this area. It detects arrhythmia, and will display a special symbol to indicate the presence of any. Validated by the ESH, it will faithfully serve you for a long time, and comes with a 5 year warranty. As well as being compact, the device also has a special storage box so you can take it with you wherever you go without worrying about damaging it.  

Sendo Advance 2 

The Sendo Advance 2 automatic blood pressure monitor is easy for anyone to use, thanks to its single button to take a measurement, save results or access its memory. A convenience for older people is its large display, where the numbers from each measurement are clearly visible. It classifies data according to the standard WHO colour scale, and a small symbol appears on its display if an arrhythmia is present. It is validated by the ESH.  

The Advance 2 also offers two cuff sizes, M and L, and includes a convenient cuff holder on the unit itself to store the cuff in once you've finished measuring. It runs on batteries as well as an adapter which plugs into the electricity.   

Sendo Advance 3 

The premium model Sendo Advance 3 digital monitor not only detects arrhythmia in its measurements, but also analyzes it. It's specially patented HIRA technology (Heartbeat Irregularity Rate Analysis) analyses every deviation from the standard heart rhythm. HIRA needs 7 records in its memory to be able to analyse each subsequent arrhythmia and classify the level of risk. Thanks to its special scale and its 4 levels, it will alert you in case of any frequently occurring arrhythmia and you need to pay attention to the values, and seek a doctor.  

The Advance 3 is suitable for everyone, offering two cuff sizes M and L made from hypoallergenic materials. With it, as with other Sendo devices, you only need to press the main button to take a measurement, save it or access the memory to retrieve older values. You can also take it with you when you travel, as it features a convenient shockproof storage case. It has both batteries and an adapter.

The Sendo Advance 3 has a large display and a WHO-standardised colour scale by which blood pressure values can be easily determined as low, normal, high or very high. It will alert you in case the cuff is not correctly placed during measurement and this could compromise the results. The model is validated by ESH and thanks to the 5 year warranty it offers, brings more peace of mind when monitoring blood pressure at home.