Jul 2010 To measure your blood pressure at home you will need to choose the kind of monitor that suits you best. The main types are digital blood pressure monitors and aneroid monitors. Most people prefer digital blood pressure monitors because this type of device is easy to use and read. The blood pressure measurement appears as clear numbers that flash on screen, whereas aneroid monitors have a pointer on a dial. Some digital blood pressure monitors even have printouts which can be kept and shown to the doctor, so they help keep a good record of your health to take to your next appointment.

The other benefit of digital blood pressure monitors is that they have the gauge and a stethoscope in the same device. With an aneroid monitor you need to listen to the stethoscope separately and this could be a problem if you have hearing difficulties. With digital blood pressure monitors there is no need for you to listen to a stethoscope for the sound of a heartbeat.

Inflating the cuff manually can be difficult for some patients, and with an aneroid monitor this is always necessary. The cuff is placed on the upper arm and is inflated by squeezing a rubber bulb. With digital blood pressure monitors the cuff can be inflated manually or automatically depending on the device you choose. Aneroid monitors are also more complicated bits of equipment and are more easily damaged than a digital blood pressure monitor, so their accuracy can be affected.

Although some people choose an aneroid monitor rather than a digital blood pressure monitor because the starting price is lower, there isn’t a big difference in cost for some models. An aneroid monitor typically costs from £15 to £30, and digital blood pressure monitors cost from £30, with the top models costing more than £100. There are finger and wrist blood pressure monitors available but, although they are the most expensive, they tend to be the least accurate because of body temperature, position and movement.

When you choose a digital blood pressure monitor check that the cuff is the right size for you, that the reading is clear enough for you to see, and that there is a model that suits you at the right price. It’s important to check with a doctor to see that the cuff is the right size and also to make sure the device is giving an accurate reading. After that you should get your digital blood pressure monitor checked at least once a year.

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