A blood pressure monitor can be one of many devices used to measure blood pressure. They can be simple cuffs with a hand pump that gradually inflates the cuff. More often, doctors and hospitals have turned to monitors that are powered by electricity and give digital readouts of systolic (upper number) and diastolic (lower number) pressure. Most types of the blood pressure monitor have at least two components. They feature the cuff, which may wrap around the arm, wrist or even a finger, and they have a display or dial to read blood pressure numbers. Additional components can include connections between the cuff and an inflating device, and possibly a stethoscope.

Many people are choosing to use a wrist blood pressure monitor at home instead of a more standard arm cuff. An alternative to obtaining blood pressure readings high on the arm with a blood pressure cuff, a wrist blood pressure monitor can be easily used at home for a quick and accurate reading. Explore our online store for a wide selection of blood pressure monitors and other medical equipment. There are many brands of Blood pressure monitors in Nigeria which we shall be looking at

Source: https://cleaneat.com.ng/understanding-blood-pressure-monitor/

WHAT IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force your arterial walls experience as your blood circulates. The measurement feature two numbers. The systolic (top) number refers to the pressure that your heart exerts as it sends blood rushing through your body. The diastolic (bottom) number refers to the pressure experienced between heartbeats, when your heart is not working so hard.

Normal blood pressure is a systolic reading that’s equal to or less than 120 and a diastolic reading equal to or less than 80. If your systolic reading is consistently above 135 and your diastolic reading is above 85, you very likely have hypertension, or high blood pressure.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM AN BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR?
It’s a good idea for everyone to maintain an awareness of their blood pressure. By tracking your blood pressure at home, you’re alerted to any high blood pressure issues that might arise. This knowledge could lead to an early diagnosis and the treatment of a potential problem as soon as possible.

If your doctor has already diagnosed you with high blood pressure, an at-home monitor allows you to track your treatment to see how you’re responding to medication, diet, and exercise changes. It can also help motivate you to make healthy choices that positively impact your blood pressure.

Many people experience an increase in blood pressure at the doctor’s office as a result of anxiety. For this reason, an at-home monitor provides a bit of extra data that can help confirm if you really do have high blood pressure.

ARM BP MONITOR VS. WRIST BP MONITOR
Most BP monitors are either upper arm wrist blood pressure monitors.

Arm blood pressure monitors
An arm blood pressure monitor features a cuff that is placed around the bicep and automatically inflates to determine blood pressure. Arm monitors are usually more accurate than other types of monitors and can alert you to especially dangerous readings.

Wrist blood pressure monitors
A wrist blood pressure monitor includes a cuff that fits around the wrist. Wrist monitors tend to be smaller in size, but they are usually more comfortable for the wearer. However, a wrist monitor may not be as accurate as an arm monitor.

BP MONITOR MACHINE BRANDS IN NIGERIA
The most popular blood pressure monitor brand in Nigeria is Omron. When it comes to home blood pressure monitors, Omron is a trusted brand that provides accurate results to help you take control of your health. But Omron offers so many models that it can be difficult to know which is best for you. Some popular Omron BP monitors include Omron M2 Basic, Omron M2 Eco, Omron M6 Comfort Upper Arm, Omron 5 Series, 7 Series and 10 Series among others

Other blood pressure monitor brands in Nigeria include Samvine BP Monitor, Andon Blood Pressure Machine etc.

High blood pressure (hypertension)
Diagnosis
Your doctor will ask questions about your medical history and do a physical examination. The doctor, nurse or other medical assistant will place an inflatable arm cuff around your arm and measure your blood pressure using a pressure-measuring gauge.

Your blood pressure generally should be measured in both arms to determine if there is a difference. It's important to use an appropriate-sized arm cuff.

Blood pressure measurements fall into several categories:

Normal blood pressure. Your blood pressure is normal if it's below 120/80 mm Hg.
Elevated blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure is a systolic pressure ranging from 120 to 129 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure below (not above) 80 mm Hg. Elevated blood pressure tends to get worse over time unless steps are taken to control blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure may also be called prehypertension.
Stage 1 hypertension. Stage 1 hypertension is a systolic pressure ranging from 130 to 139 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure ranging from 80 to 89 mm Hg.
Stage 2 hypertension. More-severe hypertension, stage 2 hypertension is a systolic pressure of 140 mm Hg or higher or a diastolic pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher.
Hypertensive crisis. A blood pressure measurement higher than 180/120 mm Hg is an emergency situation that requires urgent medical care. If you get this result when you take your blood pressure at home, wait five minutes and retest. If your blood pressure is still this high, contact your doctor immediately. If you also have chest pain, vision problems, numbness or weakness, breathing difficulty, or any other signs and symptoms of a stroke or heart attack, call 911 or your local emergency medical number.
Both numbers in a blood pressure reading are important. But after age 50, the systolic reading is even more important. Isolated systolic hypertension is a condition in which the diastolic pressure is normal (less than 80 mm Hg) but systolic pressure is high (greater than or equal to 130 mm Hg). This is a common type of high blood pressure among people older than 65.

Because blood pressure normally varies during the day and may increase during a doctor visit (white coat hypertension), your doctor will likely take several blood pressure readings at three or more separate appointments before diagnosing you with high blood pressure.