TYPES OF BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORS
There are two main categories of blood pressure monitors. The first type is called a manual device and consists of a cuff that goes around your arm, a bulb that inflates the cuff, a gauge to measure the blood pressure and a stethoscope to listen to the sound of the artery as the cuff is deflated. The most popular manual device is called "an aneroid monitor", similar to the one your doctor uses in his office. This type of monitor has a dial gauge that reads the blood pressure. The advantage of this monitor is that it is portable and it is cheaper than the digital monitors. The disadvantage is that many people find it difficult to inflate and deflate and position the stethoscope and listen to the sound of the artery at the same time. This is especially difficult for people who are hearing impaired.
Due to these reasons the digital or electronic blood pressure monitors are the more popular type for home measurement. The cuffs are easy to slip on and they are either manually inflated or it is done automatically by the push of a button. The blood pressure reading is then electronically displayed. The advantage of this monitor is its ease of use. The disadvantages are that these monitors are usually more expensive than the manual monitors and the results will be less accurate if there is an irregular heartbeat.
The digital devices have models that are designed for the upper arm, the wrist, or the finger. The arm devices are the most accurate, the wrist and finger devices less so. (The finger devices are especially inaccurate.) For most people the arm monitors are recommended.
No matter what model you buy make sure the cuff size is the correct size for your arm. Using too small a cuff will give you an incorrectly elevated reading. Make sure you test your device against your doctor's monitor to check its accuracy.