Winner of the Stiftung Warentest und Recommendations

In the event of high blood pressure or suspicion of it, in addition to medical care, regular blood pressure measurements at home are recommended. GIGA presents the best blood pressure monitors.

High blood pressure (hypertension) has been linked to a number of serious consequences. These range from a stroke to a variety of organ damage. “Heart, brain, kidneys, blood vessels and eyes” are according to that Professional Association of German Internists eV particularly at risk. A first step in the right direction is to keep an eye on your own blood pressure. This requires a good blood pressure monitor that measures precisely and is easy to use.

The best blood pressure monitors 2021: All test winners and recommendations at a glance

Price-performance tip (upper arm measuring device): Soehnle Systo Monitor 200

advantages

• Operation good: large number display, colored buttons

disadvantage

• comparatively small memory (60 places each for 2 users)

The Soehnle Systo Monitor 200 was able to achieve the test victory out of 7 tested devices in the magazine “Testjournal” with a grade of 1.2. The online retailer Otto currently has a recommendation rate of 94 percent and a 5-star average rating. Since the Soehnle Systo Monitor 200 can be found in stores at prices below 30 euros, we give it the GIGA recommendation as a price-performance tip.

At first glance, you can see from the model that great importance was attached to ease of use: A display with huge numbers, different sized buttons and colored accents – even users with poor eyesight and little technical routine should get along well with this. The 60 memory locations (for measured values) for 2 users are sufficient – but in comparison to some competing models with hundreds of memory locations, they are a bit tight.

Stiftung Warentest winner (upper arm measuring device): Boso Medicus X

advantages

• good measurement, very good handling

disadvantage

• Memory for only 30 measured values

The Stiftung Warentest has tested 17 blood pressure monitors for self-measurement. Only 7 devices received the final grade “good” – a disappointing overall result. So it is all the more important to use one of the recommended devices when buying. This is the best product in the “Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitors” category Boso Medicus X, the Stiftung Warentest awarded it a grade of 2.3 (“good”).

The cuff is placed on the upper arm. Everything else happens fully automatically after you press “Start”. According to the manufacturer, an intelligent automatic inflation system ensures a measurement without re-inflating. In addition to the measured values, a bar on the side shows the results.

Stiftung-Warentest-Winner (wrist measuring device): Omron RS7 Intelli IT

advantages

• comfortable: measurement takes place on the wrist
• connects to the appropriate mobile phone app on request

disadvantage

If you want to measure your blood pressure on your wrist, you get the Omron RS7 Intelli IT the device best rated by Stiftung Warentest. Although it is comparatively expensive, it was the only device with this compact design that received an overall rating of 2.3 (“good”). The measurement accuracy is at least “satisfactory”; a measurement takes around 60 seconds, a little longer than with the competing models.

The measurement on the wrist looks comfortable at first glance, but it is not entirely without its pitfalls: In order to avoid measurement errors, the measuring device has to be “approximately at heart level”, according to the manufacturer in the Operating Instructions for the Omron RS7 Intelli IT (PDF). An integrated position sensor should help the user to bring the arm into the correct position – a blue heart symbol indicates when it fits.

The Omron RS7 Intelli IT is technically interesting because of its ability to connect to a cell phone via Bluetooth (or to the appropriate “Omron Connect” app for Android and iOS).

The measured values ​​can not only be conveniently recorded, they are also presented graphically in an appealing way. Such progression curves are more meaningful than lists of numbers, even for laypeople. According to the manufacturer, the data is “securely stored on the smartphone” and can be shared if necessary.

Blood pressure monitor test 2021: This is how it was tested and selected

For this summary, we have used the test results of the “Testjournal” magazine (issue 04/2020, readable e.g. from Readly), the test results of Stiftung Warentest (Edition 09/2020), as well as customer ratings in online shops.

Buying a blood pressure monitor: you should know that

What do the blood pressure values ​​mean?

In addition to the pulse rate (unit: beats per minute), blood pressure monitors record two basic values ​​that can be used to make statements about health. These are according to the Swiss Heart Foundation:

• The top or systolic blood pressure value. The heart contracts, the pressure in the vessels is highest (systole).
• The lower or diastolic blood pressure value. The heart relaxes, the pressure in the blood vessels is lowest (diastole).

It is measured in the unit mmHg – the abbreviation stands for “millimeters of mercury”. When normal blood pressure Values ​​between 120-129 mmHg (systolic) and 80-84 mmHg (diastolic) apply. You should refrain from making an independent assessment of self-measured values ​​- it is always advisable to contact your family doctor about blood pressure.

Upper arm or wrist?

Which makes more sense, a Blood pressure monitor for the wrist or the classic version for the upper arm? In the “measurement accuracy” discipline, both types can do equally well – if they are good models. In the case of devices for the upper arm, putting them on can be more cumbersome than measuring on the wrist. On the other hand, the right fit for a correct measurement is a little easier.

Left or Right Arm?

The first measurement (usually done by the doctor) takes your blood pressure on both arms. All further measurements are carried out where the values ​​are higher. The cuff of your own device should therefore always be placed on this arm. The Techniker Krankenkasse recommends taking measurements in the morning and evening, preferably at the same time – before taking medication or coffee. Before starting you should sit quietly on a chair for five minutes.

Regular calibration necessary

In order for a blood pressure monitor to work reliably for many years, it must be checked regularly and, if necessary, recalibrated. The operating instructions for the Omron RS7 Intelli IT say: “It is generally recommended to have the measuring device checked every two years in order to ensure the correct function and accuracy of the device.” contact an authorized dealer.

Note

Blood pressure is a serious health issue. GIGA cannot give any professional advice here, but only provide an overview of currently available blood pressure monitors that can help in recording the state of health. Further technical information can be found here:

In the end, the following applies: In the event of serious complaints, it is imperative to seek medical advice.