FAQ’s
What is more important – the Systolic or Diastolic reading?
Both readings are important. One measures your blood pressure during a heart contraction and the
other measures blood pressure between heart contractions. For your particular situation, you should
discuss both measurement results with your doctor.
Is it normal for my blood pressure to vary?
Yes, it is quite normal for people’s blood pressure to change throughout the day and night, or in
different settings where you may measure your blood pressure. Many things, such as stress levels, food
or drink intake, activity levels, even time of day can all affect a person’s blood pressure reading at any
given time. In fact, there are published studies that show a given person’s blood pressure can change by
up to 20mm within a day, based on activity levels, food/drink intake, stress, etc. This is why it is
important to take your blood pressure on a regular basis, and review the overall trend of your blood
pressure readings with your doctor.
Why should I monitor my blood pressure at home?
The American Heart Association recommends that anyone with, or at risk of high blood pressure, should
monitor their blood pressure at home. Home blood pressure monitoring is one of the best methods of
trending a person’s blood pressure in their own environment.
How much does an OMRON home blood pressure monitor
cost?
On average, OMRON home blood pressure monitors can range anywhere from $49.99 to $109.99,
depending on which model you select, and where you decide to purchase.
Are digital blood pressure monitors accurate?
All OMRON blood pressure monitors are clinically proven accurate. They are clinically validated to be
within the following:
Blood pressure: within +/- 3 mgHg or 2 percent
Pulse: within +/- 5 percent of reading.
This meets or exceeds the AAMI (Association of Medical Instrumentation) standards. To understand the
accuracy levels of other manufacturer’s blood pressure monitors, you need to contact them. It is always
important to investigate accuracy and ease of use before purchasing a home blood pressure monitor.
What are the different styles of cuffs?
• D-Ring Cuff: A d-ring cuff is a standard type of blood pressure cuff that you would
usually see in your doctor’s office. It is a cuff where the user loops one end of the cuff
through a metal ring, then fastens it to the arm. D-ring cuffs come in different sizes of
small, standard and large. It is important to pick out the right size cuff based on your
individual arm circumference. Please see the questions in this OMRON FAQ regarding
the different types of cuffs and how to measure your arm circumference.
• Expandable Cuff: The OMRON ComFit Cuff is a pre-formed upper arm cuff that
expands to fit both regular and large sized arms (upper arm circumferences between 9
and 17 inches). It is designed to ensure more comfortable, accurate readings.
• Wrist Cuff: A wrist cuff is similar to an upper arm cuff; however you can wrap it around
your wrist instead of your upper arm.
