Digital vs manual sphygmomanometers?

Question

Is it true that manual sphygmomanometers are more accurate than digital ones? Manual ones, I heard, have to be operated by a trained person, but what exactly do I need to know so I can use one on myself?

Answer 1

The manual ones are more accurate for a variety of reasons. They tend to be better calibrated, are easier to control, and easier to adjust to the arm.

It's easy to use one. Just place it halfway up your left arm (the upper part). There is generally an arrow showing you where to line up the cuff to the artery. Pump it up to about 160 or so (you shouldn't hear any beats), then slowly let the valve open.

Wen you hear the first thump, that's your top number. When you hear the last thump, that's the bottom (diastolic). I have done my own blood pressure dozens of times and drawn my own blood. Piece of cake.

Like any thing else, it takes practice. After you do one on a hundred people, you'll be good at it.

Answer 2

I don't know which are considered to be more accurate, but unless you're going to learn to use yours one-handed while simultaneously controlling your stethoscope, it'll be hard to use a manual one on yourself.

You do need a bit of training and experience to learn to use the manual ones, in all seriousness.  If you need to be checking your own blood pressure, I'd get an automated one and bring it in to your doctor's office or clinic to see how close it is to what they say.  It's probably quite reasonably accurate--blood pressure varies a bit anyway throughout the day and measurements are often rounded off, so I wouldn't worry if your doctor reads you at 110/70 but the machine says you're at 112/72, or anything like that--that kind of discrepancy really doesn't matter.