Blood Pressure Monitor Review

HEM-7111

Few years ago, I bought an Omron basic blood pressure monitor (HEM-7111) from a Polyclinic. It was selling at S$78 (After 20% discount) for a basic function blood pressure monitor. It is working well now. Recently, I saw a better Omron blood pressure monitor (HEM-7121) from National Healthcare Group (NHGP) website selling at S$98. I don't see HEM-7111 anymore and I guess it probably phase out.

HEM-7121

HEM-7121 is a Standard blood pressure monitor as compared to the Basic HEM-7111. To get a good deal in NHGP website, you have to wait for on and off promotional period of blood pressure monitors to enjoy around 20% discount. After 20% discount, it is about S$78+. Alternatively, you can watch out for discount at Guardian, Wastons and NTUC Unity. The typical discount for HEM-7121 is 20%. Anything less than 20% discount, I would suggest you wait for a while more for the 20% discount.

I would recommend to get HEM-7121 which is the Standard Omron blood pressure monitor as compared to the more premium ones like Deluxe HEM-7130 which cost S$138 without discount. That's a difference of S$40 between the Standard and the Deluxe version. The Standard version is more than sufficient for typical usage because you just need to get the blood pressure reading. For more information on the comparison between Omron blood pressure monitors, you can visit the Omron website and click on the Products Comparison to see the overview.

Personally, I would recommend 2 brands which is Omron and A&D. I have both at home and they are good and working well. There are a lot of other brands out there like Beurer, Rossmax, Guardian, Medicare, Braun. Omron blood pressure monitor can be bought from Guardian, Watsons, NTUC Unity. A&D blood pressure monitor can be bought from a shop called Assisted Living at Novena Square 2.

There are generally 2 types of automatic blood pressure monitors which is the Arm and the Wrist. Arm blood pressure monitor is preferred because the reading is more accurate as it is closer to the human heart. One thing to take note when buying blood pressure monitor is the size of the given arm cuff. A medium arm cuff is typically 22-32cm. If you have a larger arm, you would probably need to get a larger arm cuff size of 32-42cm. You can measure your arm size first and check with the store assistant on the cuff size of the blood pressure monitor you are buying.


Blood Pressure Readings

Systolic
The top number, which is also the higher of the two numbers, measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats (when the heart muscle contracts). This is the reading/feeling when the cuff is inflated while you are taking your blood pressure.

Diastolic
The bottom number, which is also the lower of the two numbers, measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats (when the heart muscle is resting between beats and refilling with blood). This is the reading/feeling when the cuff is deflated while you are taking your blood pressure.