Gear: Blood pressure monitor works with your smartphone

Monitoring blood pressure during travels can be vital, especially for those with a history of heart disease or hypertension.

The new Withings Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor is a compact arm cuff that works with your Bluetooth-enabled iOS or Android device to measure, display and track systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as heart rate.

The monitor also comes with a USB adapter, though you must supply your own cable.

Pairing with your smartphone by Bluetooth is easy once you’ve installed the Withings Health Mate application (free at the iTunes Store or Google Play) and set up a user ID, password and age-gender-height-weight profile.

Then, wrap the cuff around your arm, lining up the BP reader’s metal tube mechanism along your bicep, lock the monitor in place using the integrated Velcro tabs, and press the cuff’s “on” button, which automatically launches the Health Mate app on your smartphone.

When you tap the green start button inside the app, the cuff will begin inflating and slowly deflating as it takes its readings, stops, then displays your measurements in a simple vertical lineup -- all in less than a minute.

Info: Withings Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor costs $129.95.