Digital Vs. Manual Blood Pressure Cuffs

High blood pressure is a serious condition that should be monitored closely not jus at the doctor's office but also at home. Home monitors come in two main varieties, digital and manual. Both types has benefits and drawbacks.

Cost

• Manual blood pressure cuffs cost much less than digital versions. $20 to $40 versus $30 to $100, according to FamilyDoctor.Org.

Ease of Use

• Manual blood pressure cuffs are more difficult to read because they require certain skill and knowledge to interpret. Digital cuffs, however, clearly display easy-to-read results, suggests MayoClinic.com.

Damage

• While digital blood pressure cuffs typically are built to withstand some wear and tear, manual cuffs can get damaged easily, which can cause inaccurate readings.

Accuracy

• Manual blood pressure cuffs can be very accurate, but an accurate reading depends largely on the skill of the person doing the reading. Digital cuffs are accurate and don't require know-how to read, but they can get skewed by arm movements.

Additional costs

• In addition to the higher up-front cost, digital blood pressure cuffs often require batteries. Manual blood pressure cuffs are powered by hand--to squeeze the bulb.