Types of Blood Pressure Cuffs

High blood pressure is a serious health problem that required lifestyle changes, taking medications as well as using of blood pressure cuffs for monitoring pressure readings at home. A physician will recommend the type of blood pressure cuff best suited to the individual patient.

Manual Blood Pressure Cuffs

• A manual blood pressure monitor uses a cuff that wraps around the arm, a bulb for inflation of the cuff, a listening device---either a stethoscope or microphone---to pick up arterial sounds and a aneroid gauge that displays pressure readings by pointing to a number on a dial.

Automatic Blood Pressure Cuffs

• Automatic blood pressure cuffs are battery operated, automatically inflated and deflated by pressing a button, use microphones to detect heartbeat sounds and offer a digital display of pressure readings on an LCD screen.

Wrist Blood Pressure Cuffs

• This type of blood pressure monitor is automatic, is not as accurate as a monitor that utilizes an arm cuff, and is only recommended when an arm cuff is not feasible due to arm size or a physical problem (see Resources).

Finger Blood Pressure Cuffs

• Finger blood pressure cuffs are automatic, but are the least accurate. They are not recommended for pressure readings being done as part of a home healthcare regimen (see Resources).

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Cuffs

• Ordered by a physician for patients who have unstable blood pressure readings or a specific health problem, this device uses an arm cuff and a monitor that is worn around the waist for recording pressure readings. Daily activities are recorded on a log, and blood pressure is automatically monitored every 15 to 30 minutes (see Resources).