Enjoy up to 40% off travel insurance! Limited time offer!
Enjoy up to 40% off travel insurance! Limited time offer!
Gift your Mum with the best disability coverage using your MediSave funds
Get your heart pumping with this candy crush game!
Health insurance

Types of blood pressure monitor in Singapore

Why it is important to self-monitor your blood pressure

16 Oct 2023
Social Share XF
Types of blood pressure monitor in Singapore

Partner content: Content has been reproduced with the permission of, and is wholly owned by Singapore Heart Foundation. Great Eastern does not own or claim to own any rights to the content shared.

Regular blood pressure monitoring is essential to detect high blood pressure. Persistent high blood pressure can cause hypertension, a leading risk factor for heart disease. Hypertension is a ‘silent killer’ as it does not present any symptoms until significant damage has been done to the heart and arteries. Hence, it is important to swiftly detect high blood pressure and get it under control through healthy lifestyle habits to manage it.
Choosing and using the right blood pressure monitor correctly provides accurate results. With many blood pressure monitor models and brands to choose from, do you know which blood pressure monitor suits you best?
 

What is a blood pressure monitor?
Blood pressure refers to the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries when the heart pumps. A blood pressure monitor measures the movement of blood pressure in the arteries as the heart pumps.
Blood pressure is measured in units of millimetres of mercury (mmHg).

The BP Monitor device measures two different blood pressures in your body – systolic (SYS) and diastolic (DIA). They are usually presented in a ratio of systolic to diastolic (e.g., 120/80mmHg, meaning 120 over 80).

  1. Systolic blood pressure is exerted against artery walls when the heart beats, i.e., when the heart muscle contracts and pumps oxygen-rich blood into the blood vessels. It also measures the pressure when the heart beats.
  2. Diastolic blood pressure is exerted against the artery walls when the heart muscle relaxes. Diastolic pressure is always lower than systolic pressure. It measures the pressure between heartbeats.

Your blood pressure varies throughout the day and keeps blood circulating in your body. It is lowest when you’re sleeping and possibly at its highest when you are physically active. When blood pressure measurement is raised, it means that your blood is pumping with more force than normal through your arteries. A normal blood pressure reading should be less than 130/85mmHg.

Self-monitoring your blood pressure can help with:

  • Early diagnosis: monitoring blood pressure at home is especially important for those at risk of hypertension or having a condition that could contribute to high blood pressure, such as diabetes or kidney problems. High blood pressure can be detected through regular blood pressure monitoring. Studies suggest that a home blood pressure monitor has excellent diagnostic accuracy for irregular heartbeats detection, such as atrial fibrillation.
  • Take charge of your healthcare and medical costs: taking control of our own well-being can possibly lead to optimal health and independence in the future. Knowing the readings on the blood pressure monitor can give you a sense of control over your health and potentially reduce your medical costs, as it motivates you to better control your blood pressure through a well-balanced diet, regular exercise, and a healthier lifestyle.

Common types of blood pressure monitor in Singapore
There are two basic types of blood pressure monitors that use an arm cuff and are available for home use in Singapore. They are aneroid monitors or analog, and digital blood pressure monitors. Other options such as wrist blood pressure monitors and smartwatches are available in the market to monitor and track blood pressure. However, they are not recommended as they yield less reliable readings.
No matter what type of blood pressure monitor you choose, proper and accurate use requires practice. You may consult a doctor or pharmacist to make sure you get a blood pressure monitor that is best for you.

An aneroid monitor must be operated manually to measure blood pressure. The aneroid monitor has a rubber bulb, an inflatable cuff and an aneroid meter. When you inflate the cuff by pumping the rubber bulb, the aneroid meter will display your readings.
Aneroid blood pressure monitors are portable and compact.
In addition, aneroid blood pressure monitors cost less, are compact and contain a built-in stethoscope.
However, they may be too complex to use. The lack of a tightener or a hard rubber bulb makes it less compact and user-friendly. These features may affect the accuracy of your blood pressure readings as well.

How you use it in detail

  1. Place the cuff around your upper arm.
  2. To ensure that the cuff is sufficiently tight, slip two fingertips under the edge of the cuff. You should not be able to slip more than two fingertips.
  3. Squeeze the rubber bulb with your opposite hand to inflate it.
  4. Look at the pointer to see your measurements.
     

Similar to the aneroid blood pressure monitor, the cuffs of digital blood pressure monitors are also placed on the upper arm but are easier to use. Because they are digital, these monitors present fewer errors than aneroid monitoring blood pressure monitors and are easier for the users to read as the readings appear clearly on the screen.

Digital blood pressure monitors may come with a variety of features. There are digital blood pressure monitors that come with a stethoscope and a gauge. Other units may have an error indicator.
Some digital blood pressure monitors even have colour indicators to show users where a blood pressure reading falls in comparison to normal ranges.
Some monitors can store readings, show average readings, track them and even display several readings taken within a specific period. They can even give you a printed copy of your readings, or upload your results onto a mobile device, app or computer.

However, digital blood pressure monitors are more expensive than aneroid blood pressure monitors and require batteries to function.
Moving the device from your body and having an irregular heartbeat detection may affect its accuracy and readings as well. Wrist blood pressure monitors are smaller, more compact, digital monitor that works by measuring your blood flow in the arteries at your wrist.

It is crucial for these monitors to be worn on the skin and positioned correctly at the wrist for accurate measurement. Wrist blood pressure monitors are less accurate compared to aneroid and digital monitors that measure with a cuff at the arm, and they tend to give higher measurements.
Moreover, blood pressure can be measured differently in different parts of the body, due to the blood flow in different areas of the body. For example, the arteries at the wrist are much thinner than the arteries present at the biceps. Hence, the readings in these two areas differ.

How to Use a Digital Blood Pressure Monitor

  1. Place the cuff around your upper arm
    1. Make sure the tubing falls over the front centre of your arm so the sensor can detect it
    2. Make sure that the cuff is tight enough to allow only two fingers to slip through the top edge of the cuff
  2. Press the start button when you are ready. Remain still and quiet as the device measures your blood pressure 
  3. The cuff will inflate and deflate automatically to take your blood pressure measurement

Wrist blood pressure monitors are smaller, more compact, digital monitors that work by measuring your blood flow in the arteries of your wrist.
It is crucial for these monitors to be worn on the skin and positioned correctly at the wrist for accurate measurement. Wrist blood pressure monitors are less accurate compared to aneroid and digital monitors that measure with a cuff at the arm, and they tend to give higher measurements.
Moreover, blood pressure can be gauged differently on different parts of the body, due to the blood flow in different areas of the body. For example, the arteries at the wrist are much thinner than the arteries present at the biceps. Hence, these two areas will produce readings that differ from each other.
 

Where to buy blood pressure monitors in Singapore

Contrary to popular advice and belief, you do not need a doctor’s note or prescription to purchase a blood pressure monitor.
Blood pressure monitors are sold over the counter and are widely available in Singapore, at places such as the pharmacy, clinics, hospitals and major supermarkets. Online stores are excellent places to compare and buy blood pressure monitors, as they can be delivered directly to your doorstep.

Learn how to choose the best blood pressure monitor here.

Take charge of your health today!

Health insurance
Discover all health products
Find out more

Read more like this

4 tips to protect yourself against diabetes
Medical Coverage
4 tips to protect yourself against diabetes
Oct 05, 2023
#Adulting101: The 7 types of rest everyone needs
Medical coverage
#Adulting101: The 7 types of rest everyone needs
Oct 03, 2023
Young people don't get high cholesterol
Medical coverage
Young people don't get high cholesterol
Feb 01, 2023

Let us match you with a qualified financial representative

Our financial representative will answer any questions you may have about our products and planning.

 

Request Callback

How can we help you?

Your last Servicing Representative will contact you.

Thank you

Your submission has been sent successfully.

Browse our products
Ok

Stay connected with Lifepedia

Join our mailing list on latest happenings and promotions

The Conversation