Technique for How to Take Blood Pressure
Learn how to take blood pressure by following this guidance. Blood pressure should be obtained with a reliable blood pressure monitor or manual cuff in a quiet room while in a comfortable seated position after a few minutes. A proper sized cuff should be placed over the upper arm with the marker on the cuff positioned over the brachial artery. The cuff should have about 2-3 cm of space between the arm and the cuff. For further information on BP technique, please see more information for how to take blood pressure at the American Heart Association resource. If BP is much higher or lower than usual, measurement should always be confirmed by taking 2 measurements either on the same arm or on both arms. One should never react based on a single BP reading because BP may fluctuate when taken in different positions, due to time of day, due to improper BP cuff size, or from faulty equipment.”]
How to Take Blood Pressure Using a Diary
Log the date, time, and your blood pressure over 1 week at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime. If diabetes is present, check BP before or at least 30 minutes after blood sugar checks to avoid temporary high measurements in BP.
How to Take Blood Pressure
Home BP monitoring is vitally important for diagnosis. Home BP checks are also important to follow improvement, optimize BP, and evaluate for BP control. A home BP monitor is important for tracking BP trend and response to treatment. Normal BP is defined as 120/80 mm Hg. Prehypertension falls in the range between normal BP and stage I hypertension.
How to Take Blood Pressure and Diagnose High Blood Pressure at Home
High BP may be diagnosed at home by taking your BP at least 12 times over the course of 1 week (ideally 4 times daily). These need to be written down and done this often because BP will fluctuate based on caffeine use, stress, exercise, alcohol use, and other factors. You may use the following criteria after recording you measurements with a home BP monitor:
An average BP elevation of 135/85 mm Hg defines high blood pressure.
