Measuring your blood pressure regularly at home is a recommended practice for many people, but especially for those who have high blood pressure (hypertension) or the risk factors for developing it. That’s why it’s wise to purchase a good quality blood pressure machine and learn how to use it properly.

Two types of blood pressure machines available for home use are the aneroid monitor and the digital monitor.

There are several different types of blood pressure machines on the market. To you’re your blood pressure at home, you can use either an aneroid monitor or a digital monitor.

There are some disadvantages to an aneroid monitor, however. It’s easier to damage this kind of blood pressure machine, so you could get inaccurate readings more often. People with handicapping conditions, such as arthritis in their hands or hearing impairments, can find it hard to inflate the cuff or to hear heart sounds through the stethoscope. People for whom this problems make the aneroid monitor too hard to use often turn to digital monitors instead.

Aneroid monitors, on the other hand, require more skill to use, but are more likely to give accurate readings. Many models have built-in stethoscopes to monitor the heart sounds that tell you where to mark the upper and lower levels of blood pressure. The aneroid version has a dial gauge rather than a digital read-out. It’s typically inflated by squeezing a rubber bulb. Any of these factors can make it more difficult for a patient to use an aneroid monitor at home. They’re also prone to damage easily, which can affect the accuracy of the reading.

When choosing a blood pressure machine, be sure to get the right size cuff for the size of your arm. Your readings will be wrong if your cuff is the wrong size. You should get a monitor with numbers that are easy for you to read. Shop around until you find a blood pressure machine with the right features at the right cost so you can be an active partner in your health care.

Tags: Health

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