Choosing The Right Blood Pressure Cuffs

Blood pressure cuffs are the portion of the blood pressure monitor that wraps around your arm. Either through a manual or automatic pump, it inflates to the point where it impedes blood flow so your blood pressure readings may be taken.

While much of the debate regarding blood pressure equipment for home use focuses on whether aneroid or digital monitors are best, the blood pressure cuffs themselves tend to be neglected. This should not be the case, because this is the portion of the monitor that is actually used to determine your reading.

Choosing the wrong size or the wrong one could result in very inaccurate readings, which defeats the entire purpose of checking. The following guidelines will help you make sure that you make the right choice for your needs.

Whatever blood pressure cuffs you decide to use, the most important thing to take into account is the size. If you choose one that is too small for your arm, it will squeeze your arm far too tight, and will result in a reading that is far higher than true, possibly even by a margin of 50 mm. The primary danger of a false positive is that it could easily lead to an inaccurate diagnosis, resulting in unnecessary hypertension treatment.

If you choose one that is too large for your arm, the opposite will be true. The reading it gives could be far too low, giving you a false sense of security that could prevent you from seeking out proper treatment.

There are generally three different sizes of blood pressure cuffs. You will know which one you need by measuring the circumference of the middle of your upper arm. You will want to choose one where your measurement falls about in the middle to 75% of its range to ensure that it will continue to work for you if you gain weight. The three sizes are as follows:

Adult – 27 – 34 cm
Large - 35 – 44 cm
Thigh – 45 – 52 cm

Remember, choosing the right size blood pressure cuffs is the most important aspect of choosing a blood pressure monitor. To ensure that you get a consistent, accurate reading, make sure that you choose the right size.  This will ensure that you get blood pressure treatment when it is necessary, and can avoid it when it is not.