Home blood-pressure monitoring is a valuable tool for tracking your condition, but incorrect technique can produce misleading numbers. Here is how to do it right.
Before measuring
- Avoid coffee, smoking and exercise for 30 minutes.
- Empty your bladder and sit quietly for five minutes.
- Sit with your back supported and feet flat on the floor, legs uncrossed.
During measurement
- Place the cuff on a bare arm at heart level.
- Do not talk during the reading.
- Take two readings one minute apart and record the average.
When to worry
A normal reading is generally below 120/80. If your readings are repeatedly above 140/90, or exceed 180/120 with headache, chest pain or blurred vision, seek immediate care.
Keep a log
Record morning and evening readings for a full week before your appointment and share them with your doctor on the platform so your treatment plan can be adjusted precisely.
