Blood Pressure Machine & Blood Pressure Monitor Guide - What You Need To Know

When looking for a blood pressure machine to use at home there are basically two main options to choose from - aneroid monitors (also known as manual monitors) and digital monitors. Both have their pros and cons which we will outline here so you have a good idea of which will serve your needs best.

Digital blood pressure machines are the most popular choice because of their ease of us. Here are the pros and cons of this device.

Pros
1) Digital machines have a built in stethoscope that 'listens to your heart beat' for you . Aneroid blood pressure machines require a stethoscope that you must place in your ears and listen to for taking readings.

2) The stethoscope and gauge are combined in a digital machine. The stethoscope is part of this automatic blood pressure machine and does not need to be listened to so is great for the hearing impaired.

3) The digital screen is easier to read than the dialometer used in aneroid machines.

4) Most digital blood pressure machines allow you to save your readings so you can track progress over time. Some digital machines even allow you to print out readings.

5) The cuff (the part that wraps around your arm) inflates automatically in some digital models. All models deflate automatically.

Cons
1) Digital monitors can be less accurate than aneroid monitors. The readings can be affected by an irregular heartbeat and body movements.

2) Some digital monitors can only be used with the left arm. This can be troublesome for some users.

3) Digital monitors require batteries

4) Digital monitors can be more expensive than their aneroid monitor counterparts.

Aneroid monitors are less popular than digital blood pressure machines because they are a little more difficult to use but they are more accurate.

Pros
1) Aneroid monitors are more accurate

2) They don't require batteries

3) They can be carried with ease from place to place

4) The stethoscope is built into the cuff - the part that wraps around your arm and inflates. So there is no need to buy a separate stethoscope.

5) The cuff can be easier to place on your arm with one hand than the cuffs used for digital monitors, provided the aneroid device come with a metal cuff ring.

6) Aneroid blood pressure machines are generally cheaper than digital machines

Cons
1) The aneroid device is a more complicated machine than the digital blood pressure machine.

2) Although more accurate when in good shape, aneroid monitors are more fragile and damage more easily which effects their accuracy

3) The aneroid blood pressure machine requires that you listen to your heartbeat through the stethoscope which is not useful for the hearing impaired.

4) The cuff needs to be manually inflated with a hand pump that may be difficult to squeeze with some models. 

So far we have only highlighted the two types of blood pressure monitors that are used for taking a reading from the upper arm. The brachial artery is the major artery through which blood is pumped away from the heart. It runs from the heart down through the left arm and to the elbow. This is the artery that gives the best blood pressure reading because it is attached directly to the heart. There are other blood pressure monitoring machines that take readings from other areas of the body such as a digital wrist blood pressure machine and also digital machines that take reading from our fingers. These have been shown to be less accurate at taking blood pressure readings. Joints such as the elbow joint effect readings as the artery passes through them. So readings taken at the upper arm are a better option. However, wrist and finger monitors can be a useful option for people who suffer with arthritis or other conditions that may make it difficult to wrap the cuff around the upper arm.