Beebo I have the best BP monitor even my doctor's nurses use it. The Brand is Omron but it takes three readings in a row one minute apart then averages the readings. My doctor said she trusts my machine when I go to the doctors it is consistently high I have white coat. As far as the drop in number my doctor said to ignore the first reading because it usually high caused by anxiety to take my BP. Mine is always a few points higher then the second and third is always lower much lower in some cases. That is why you take three and then average them.