A reliable blood pressure monitor is an essential part of my daily routine. Every morning, I check my blood pressure along with my weight and other health measurements. These readings help me notice changes and provide useful information to share with my doctors.
Because I live with heart failure and other chronic health conditions, I pay close attention to possible signs of fluid retention. Blood pressure alone cannot determine whether fluid is building up, but I use it as one part of the overall picture—along with changes in my weight, swelling, symptoms, and the care plan provided by my medical team.
The monitor I use is the Equate 8000 Series Premium Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor. I purchased it at Walmart and have found it dependable and easy to incorporate into my morning routine.
What I Like About It
One of its most useful features is Bluetooth connectivity. My readings can be synchronized with Apple Health, which helps keep my health information together and makes it easier to review changes over time.
The monitor supports two users, so two people can maintain separate reading histories on the same device. It also alerts me when it detects a potentially irregular heartbeat during a measurement. Since I live with persistent atrial fibrillation, I do not use that notification to diagnose anything, but it is still useful information to notice and discuss with my healthcare team when necessary.
It offers two different measurement modes:
- A standard mode that takes one blood pressure reading
- A multi-reading mode that takes three readings and calculates an average
I especially like the three-reading option because blood pressure can vary from one measurement to the next. Having the monitor calculate an average gives me a more consistent number without requiring me to record and calculate three separate readings myself.
The monitor is also extremely quiet while operating. That makes it convenient to use early in the morning without disturbing anyone else.
It runs on four AA batteries, so it does not need to remain plugged into an outlet.
What I Don’t Like
My only significant complaint is its size. It is larger than some blood pressure monitors, so it is not the most convenient choice for travel or for someone with limited storage space. For regular use at home, however, the size has not prevented it from becoming a valuable part of my routine.
My Overall Opinion
This monitor has worked well for my needs. I like its Bluetooth syncing, support for two users, quiet operation, irregular-heartbeat detection, and the option to average three readings.
It is not the smallest monitor available, but for daily home use, I have found it convenient and dependable. Most importantly, it helps me consistently track information that I can review over time and share with my healthcare providers.
View the Equate 8000 Series Blood Pressure Monitor at Walmart
This is my personal experience with a product I purchased and use. It is not medical advice, and a home blood pressure monitor is not a substitute for evaluation or treatment by a qualified healthcare professional.