What is the difference between a sphygmomanometer and a blood pressure monitor?

There are several important differences between a sphygmomanometer and a blood pressure monitor, and this can all mean one thing: lots of confusion. They may seem to sound the same, but a sphygmomanometer and a blood pressure monitor play very different roles Here, we take a look at the distinction between blood pressure monitor and sphygmomanometer to help you decide which one might be more relevant for you.

By comparing the functions and features of a sphygmomanometer compared to a blood pressure monitor, we can see some interesting points. 

A manual aneroid sphygmomanometer is a piece of equipment, including an inflatable cuff that is applied to the upper arm. It also includes the pressure gauge for assessing the pressure of the blood in the arteries. OTOH, the blood pressure monitor is an electronic device that inflates the cuff by itself and has a digital reading of the blood pressure.

The uses and accuracies of sphygmomanometers and blood pressure monitors are quite different. 

An aneroid sphygmomanometer is something you use to pump up the cuff, and to listen, and hear these sounds as the blood flows through your arteries. This can be challenging for some people to accomplish accurately, and may result in errors in the readings. Alternatively, blood pressure monitor is completely automatic and gives a digital reading that is straightforward to read and follow.

So, if you’re trying to decide between a sphygmomanometer vs. blood pressure monitor, it will all be up to what you find more convenient to use. 

Some people might prefer this classic method of using a aneroid sphygmomanometer because they like to be more in control of the process, and feel more a part of the reason for which they are checking their health. Some may find a blood pressure monitor is easy and convenient to use, offering fast and accurate readings with little physical exertion.

So, which is it — a sphygmomanometer or a blood pressure monitor? 

As always, the right choice will be the one that works best for you and your situation. If you’d rather stick to a more traditional way to measure the pressure in the blood and you don’t mind going through the process of inflating the cuff by hand and listening through your stethoscope to the sounds of your blood flow, then the sphygmomanometer is probably the best one for you. But if you like to avoid a fuss and want a fast ‘n easy solution for keeping tabs on your own blood pressure, something like a blood pressure monitor would be more what you’re looking for.