3 Best Blood Pressure Monitors to use with Apple’s Health app

The Apple Health app is one of the default apps included with every iPhone, and it is also one of the most popular and most-used apps. This app can track all of your health information, such as vital signs, medications, and health conditions.

For people with chronic health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, having this information at their fingertips makes managing their health much easier.

Many people who struggle with chronic hypertension find the Health app useful for monitoring their blood pressure throughout the day when combined with an iOS-compatible blood pressure monitor. Which monitors work best for blood pressure monitoring with iPhone?

Here are three of the most accurate, reliable, and easiest-to-use iOS compatible blood pressure monitors currently available.

Related reading 

• Is Apple’s approach to Blood Pressure monitoring via Apple Watch different than that of Samsung’s
• 5 Best Blood Pressure Apps For Monitoring and Tracking
• 4 best Google Fit-compatible blood pressure monitors
• Apple and German Heart Foundation team up around using Apple Watch for dilated cardiomyopathy
• 4 best blood pressure monitors that work with the Samsung Health app

How to get your smart blood pressure monitor to work with Apple Health

Your smart BP monitor does not directly connect to Apple Health. Instead, the way your smart BP monitor, or any other smart health tool, communicates with Apple Health is via Apple’s HealthKit.

HealthKit allows third-party manufacturers and App Developers to integrate and sync their product’s data into your iPhone’s Health app. 

What that means for your smart blood pressure monitor is that it offers an app that you then give permission to share data with the Health app.

Apple wants your iPhone’s Health app to be the place for storing and sharing all of your health data, including data from your Apple devices, your third-party apps and products, and even your healthcare providers.

By collecting all your health data in a single app, Apple hopes to help you organize all your health information and make it easy to identify trends, show and understand any changes, and easily share data with your family, loved ones, and healthcare providers.

Withings Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor

Say goodbye to bulky blood pressure monitors that come attached to a mess of cords. Using the Withings Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor is simple, easy, and integrates with Apple Health.

When you attach the cuff to your arm and turn it on, it automatically syncs with your iPhone over a Bluetooth connection.

Plus, you can set up the Withings HealthMate app to automatically sync all your readings to the Apple Health app on your iPhone. 

If you don’t want to use a wireless connection, Withings has you covered. You can also connect the monitor to your iPhone with a cable.

Your iPhone and the Withings Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor were made for each other, which is evident in the design aesthetic that emulates the aluminum and white color scheme and cylindrical battery compartment design used in Apple’s accessories.

We have used the Withings Blood Pressure monitor for some time now and have been able to download the data from Apple Health and more. Please read our detailed review of this fantastic blood pressure monitor.

• Review: Withings Blood Pressure Monitor (BPM) Connect for Apple iPhone users

You can store and chart all your readings in the Withings Health Cloud. You can also allow your doctor to access the cloud feature to view your readings at any time. This meter’s use in clinical trials and studies attests to its accuracy.

iHealth View and Neo Wireless Blood Pressure Monitors

If you prefer to check your blood pressure on your wrist, the iHealth View Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor might be for you. And if you like a traditional cuff for your upper arm, check out the iHealth Neo. Both integrate with Apple’s Health app on your iPhone!

Both of these BP monitors feature an easy display screen on the device, which means you can view your blood pressure reading without syncing to your iPhone.

Plus, both of these models are quite thin, so they are easy to carry with you and fit right into a purse or backpack.

If you want the convenience of blood pressure monitoring with your iPhone, you can sync your settings after measuring to store and chart your readings. The iHealth monitor, like the Withing’s wireless monitor, comes with its own cloud for storing and sharing readings.

A common complaint about wrist blood pressure monitors is inaccuracy due to improper positioning of the monitor.

The iHealth View solves this problem using its intelligent display screen to help you orient it to just the right position for the most accurate readings. Arrows on the screen instruct you to move your wrist up, down, left, or right.

When the monitor is in position, a green dot appears, and you can press start to read your blood pressure. 

Some readers noted that the iHealth View wrist model is often out of stock. In that case, check out the Neo which is very similar except that it takes readings on your upper arm.

The good news is that iHealth has some affordable options, including the iHealth Ease wireless BP monitors. 

Both the Neo and the Ease are a traditional cuff-based system, FDA cleared, compliant with European medical device standards, and connect with Apple’s Health app and the iHealth MyVitals app too!

QardioArm Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor

The QardioArm Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor is a compact, stylish monitor that goes with you anywhere and imports your heart data directly into Apple Health via Qardio’s heart health app!

This monitor is medically accurate, easy to use, and packed with innovative and useful features.

The QardioArm is fully integrated with Apple Health to keep track of your readings. It can even share your data directly to your Apple Watch using the Qardio Apple Watch app.

You can use the app to store, chart, and share readings, and you can also set reminders to check your blood pressure at specific times or regular intervals.

The QardioArm is very easy to set up.

Just tap your iPhone to the device and watch them sync like magic. Once connected, you can measure your blood pressure, compare it against the World Health Organization’s chart, email readings to your doctor, and more.

This device not only reads your results but also provides an interpretation. QardioArm provides its own cloud service, which is fully HIPPA compliant, with the monitor. This monitor syncs with Apple Watch as well as the iPhone, and it supports multiple users.

Honorable Mentions From Our Readers

Some of our readers let us know they have a couple of favorites we didn’t list in our top three smart blood pressure monitors. So here are a couple of our readers’ recommendations.

Wellue Smart Armfit Plus Blood Pressure Monitor + EKG

If you’re looking to measure your EKG and blood pressure with the same device, Wellue’s Armfit Plus model is for you! Plus, it has one of the longest battery lives you can find on a wireless BP monitor with up to 4 months of use on a single charge!

And its lightweight and small size is very convenient when traveling or even taking it with you to the office making it one of the most portable EKG+Blood pressure machines out there.

This BLE 4.2 Bluetooth-connected BP/EKG monitor is FDA-cleared and its ViHealth app integrates with Apple Health so you can keep all your health information in one place.

And unlike some of the models above, Wellue stores your information locally, on your phone. Data is transferred to the ViHealth app and stored on your phone, not on the cloud.

The onboard OLED screen is easy to read and displays your blood pressure and pulse so you or other family members get the results right away.

And the device includes built-in memory that stores up to 60 different sets of readings, so you don’t need to connect to the app when using the device.

Your whole family can use this monitor–it supports unlimited users. Just make sure to add the person’s name to their readings. 

Plus, for anyone with limited mobility, this model requires just a single push of one button to check blood pressure or capture a 30-second EKG.

If you don’t need to EKG feature, there’s also a model that’s just the Blood Pressure monitor.

Greater Goods smart blood pressure monitor kit

Unlike the previous recommendations, the Greater Good blood pressure monitor is more like the traditional cuff you get at the doctor’s office.

But unlike your doctor’s office cuff, this one is smart and connects to your mobile phone and Apple’s Health app!

However, at this time, this smart BP monitor only works with Apple Health and is not compatible with Samsung Health or Google Fit.

The cuff is adjustable, so it fits should fit everyone in your family and almost any size arm. And if you discover that your arm is too small for the cuff, contact customer service, and they should send you a smaller cuff, free of charge.

Plus, the cuff has an indicator to help you align it with your arm’s main artery to get the best reading.

The BP monitor includes a separate display that’s big and bright so you can see all your numbers. Additionally, you can plug your display into a nearby outlet so that you can save your batteries for something else.

The Greater Good smart blood pressure monitor also includes access to their Balance app. Your monitor automatically syncs to the Balance app and with your iPhone over Bluetooth.

When you connect your BP monitor to the app, you can store as many entries as you want and easily track your heart’s BP and overall health.

To share your monitor with others, each person needs to sign up with the Balance app using a separate email address. 

Omron Gold Wireless Wrist Blood Pressure monitor

If you like the wrist-style monitor, many of our readers recommend the wrist blood pressure monitor from Omron. This monitor also features a morning hypertension indicator and averaging.

The Omron Connect app is compatible with both iOS and Android and integrates with Apple Health.

Plus, Omron’s smart blood pressure monitors are often less expensive than others and come with a 5-year warranty.

You can use this monitor with another family member as it supports 2 total users. And it can store on-board up to 100 readings per user. If you use the app, you get access to unlimited users.

It also features large, easy-to-read buttons and offers a large display to check your numbers. And it fits easily into a purse or backpack for on-the-go readings at anytime, anywhere.

Why Monitor Blood Pressure With Your iPhone?

If you are dealing with hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, or pregnancy, monitoring your blood pressure is very important.

If your blood pressure goes too high and you have any of these health conditions, you could become very sick or even die if your high blood pressure is not addressed quickly.

Checking your blood pressure several times a day can also give your health care providers a better idea of what is going on with your health so they can treat you more effectively. Getting a blood pressure reading only when you visit your doctor isn’t enough.

Using your iPhone, which you probably keep nearby at all times, to monitor and track your blood pressure makes the process easier and more convenient.

Breathing Training and High Blood Pressure Management

Recent studies have shown that inspiratory muscle strength training can help lower blood pressure and improve endothelial function in midlife/older adults with high blood pressure.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association clearly shows the benefits that can come from regular inspiratory breathing training.

Although the Apple Watch and other smartwatches have apps that can help with breathing and mindfulness, they lack the resistance training aspect of breathing.

In order to get the most out of the regular breathing training to lower blood pressure, one needs to try out an affordable gadget that offers resistance-based breathing training.

Based on the study, we identified a few gadgets and apps that facilitate this type of ISMT training. The exercise requires 5 to 10 minutes of your day and can help you with managing your hypertension.

• Lower your Blood Pressure using these Inspiratory Breath training devices (IMST)

Blood Pressure Monitor Accuracy from third party validation

Given that there are so many blood pressure monitors available today with different features, it was necessary to ensure that these monitors are tested by an independent body and the general public is made aware of the findings.

To that end, the American Medical Association (AMA) enlisted the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago (NORC) to assist in the design and management of an independent process to determine which BP devices available in the U.S. meet the AMA’s established criteria to validate clinical accuracy (the “Validated Device Listing (VDL) Criteria”).

This process set up an Independent Review Committee comprised of physician experts in the BP field who could assess whether a BP device satisfies the VDL Criteria for validation of clinical accuracy.

This independent review process results in a formal list of BP devices that have been validated for clinical accuracy (the “US Blood Pressure Validated Device Listing” or “VDL”).

As part of the validation process, a device must have an active 510(k) pre-market clearance record and documentation. This ensures that the device you are buying is FDA compliant. This group has adopted a strict and transparent set of validation guidelines and criteria.

The Blood pressure monitors from OMRON and Withings have been validated as a part of this testing.

We recommend all our readers check out the US Blood pressure validated device listing before buying any of the monitors. ValidateBP is a great resource to learn about this. 

Best Blood Pressure Apps for mobile device

The software accompanying your blood pressure monitor is also an essential element of the overall blood pressure monitoring experience.

Most of the leading companies in this space, such as Withings, have their own apps to accompany the BP monitors.

• 5 Best Blood Pressure Apps For Monitoring and Tracking
• Valencell introduces a new generation of cuffless Blood pressure monitoring

Some are one step ahead of others. For example, if your Apple iPhone uses iOS 14, you can customize the Withings Healthmate app to show appropriate Widgets on the home screen. This makes it super easy to look at your information at a glance.

It also opens up opportunities to use new tools, such as charts and clouds, to improve your health care experience.

Summary

Please check this article for an in-depth look at some of the common blood pressure apps available in the app stores. If you are also exploring apps that can help you better manage your blood sugar levels, please check out the 2021 guide below.

• The Best Diabetes management apps for your iPhone and Apple Watch in 2021

If you have trouble keeping up with your blood pressure monitoring regimen, using a small device that works with your iPhone is a great way to make monitoring easier.

Lastly, Please note that the American Heart Association has provided new guidelines for Blood pressure monitoring. Be sure to check out the new guidance.

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