Understanding Blood Pressure Monitors: Ensuring Accuracy for Your Health
- Mar 6, 2024
Selecting a blood pressure monitor may be overwhelming with a variety of options and styles to choose from. Monitoring your blood pressure can be important, especially for those with hypertension or other cardiovascular conditions.
Why Accuracy Matters
Accurate blood pressure monitoring is crucial for managing various health conditions and making informed decisions about treatment plans. Inaccurate readings can lead to misdiagnosis, inadequate treatment, or unnecessary worry. That's why selecting a reliable blood pressure monitor is key for maintaining your health and peace of mind.
AMA Testing Standards
The American Medical Association is renowned for its commitment to upholding the highest standards of medical practice and patient care. As part of its mission, the AMA conducts rigorous testing of medical devices, including blood pressure monitors, to ensure their accuracy and reliability.
Blood pressure monitors available at Mayo Clinic Store undergo thorough testing by the AMA to verify their precision in measuring systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as pulse rate. These tests are conducted under various conditions to simulate real-life scenarios and ensure consistent performance across different user profiles.
Choosing the Right Blood Pressure Monitor
When selecting a blood pressure monitor, it is important to consider factors such as cuff size, ease of use, memory storage, and display readability.
Additionally, blood pressure monitors are available in both digital and manual varieties.
Benefits of Accurate Monitoring
Accurate blood pressure monitoring empowers you to take control of your health by providing timely insights into your cardiovascular well-being. By tracking your blood pressure trends over time, you and your healthcare provider can make informed decisions regarding medication adjustments, lifestyle modifications, and overall treatment strategies.
All blood pressure monitors available at Mayo Clinic Store have been validated by the American Medical Association’s (AMA) validation program for accurate and reliable blood pressure readings.
*This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be substituted for medical advice. For medical questions and advice, it is always best to consult with your trained physician.
Sources:
1, D., & Berg, S. (2020, December 1). BP monitoring you can count on-list of validated devices grows. American Medical Association. https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/hypertension/bp-monitoring-you-can-count-list-validated-devices-grows
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, July 8). Get the most out of Home Blood Pressure Monitoring. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/high-blood-pressure/art-20047889
Picone, D. S., Padwal, R., Campbell, N. R. C., Boutouyrie, P., Brady, T. M., Olsen, M. H., Delles, C., Lombardi, C., Mahmud, A., Meng, Y., Mokwatsi, G. G., Ordunez, P., Phan, H. T., Pucci, G., Schutte, A. E., Sung, K.-C., Zhang, X.-H., Sharman, J. E., & Accuracy in Measurement of Blood Pressure (AIM-BP) Collaborative. (2020, December). How to check whether a blood pressure monitor has been properly validated for accuracy. Journal of clinical hypertension (Greenwich, Conn.). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8030032/
