A single elevated blood pressure measurement is not necessarily an indication of a problem. For persons with hypertension, home monitoring allows your physician to monitor how much your blood pressure changes during the day, and from day to day. This may also help your physician determine how effectively your blood pressure medication is working. Either an aneroid monitor, which has a dial gauge and is read by looking at a pointer, or a digital monitor, in which the blood pressure reading flashes on a small screen, can be used to measure blood pressure. The cuff is inflated by hand by squeezing a rubber bulb.
Some units even have a special feature to make it easier to put the cuff on with one hand.
However, the unit can be easily damaged and become less accurate. Because the person using it must listen for heartbeats with the stethoscope, it may not be appropriate for the hearing-impaired. Because the recordings are easy to read, this is the most popular blood pressure measuring device. It is also easier to use than the aneroid unit, and since there is no need to listen to heartbeats through the stethoscope, this is a good device for hearing-impaired patients. One disadvantage is that body movements or an irregular heart rate can change the accuracy.