Blood pressure readings measure the force of the blood against the arterial walls. The higher reading (systolic) measures the force of the blood when the heart contracts, and the lower reading (diastolic) measures the pressure when the heart relaxes. If you have high blood pressure it's important to monitor your blood pressure at home, according to the American Heart Association. Accurate records help your health care provider see the effects of medication and lifestyle changes on your blood pressure.
Step 1
Choose a recording method. Pen-and-paper blood pressure charts have four or more columns for the date and time, three separate readings and comments. Your doctor's office may give you one, or you can download one from the Internet. Online trackers are also available.
Step 2
Gather your equipment and sit quietly in a chair with your feet on the floor for three to five minutes.
Step 3
Place your left arm on the table at heart level, apply the monitor over bare skin and take a reading. An automatic monitor will display two numbers: the systolic and the diastolic readings. If you are using manual equipment, note the reading when you first hear a sound (systolic) and when the sound disappears (diastolic).
Step 4
On your tracker, enter the date and time. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), but it is not necessary to include that information on your tracker. Simply enter the two numbers, divided by a diagonal line, as if you were writing a fraction. For example, if the systolic reading is 120 mm Hg and the diastolic pressure is 80 mm Hg, record "120/80" on the tracker.
Step 5
Wait one minute, then take and record a second reading. Repeat a third reading after another minute.
Tips and Warnings
- Before using a monitor for the first time, ask your doctor or nurse check its accuracy against the office model. Also ask them to check your technique to see if you are taking the readings accurately. Take your blood pressure twice a day, in the morning before taking medications or exercising. Take it again in the evening. Later, if your blood pressure is well controlled, you may need to check it at home only a few days each month. Avoid caffeine, tobacco and alcohol for 30 minutes before checking your blood pressure. Empty your bladder before a reading. Don't talk while taking the reading. Home blood pressure readings normally are slightly lower than they are in a health care provider's office.
- If you drop the monitor or damage it, take it in to be checked before using it again, as it may no longer work properly. Blood pressure varies throughout the day, and readings are often a little higher in the morning. Contact your doctor if you have any unusual or persistent increases in your blood pressure. Also ask what reading should prompt an immediate call to the medical office. If your blood pressure is higher than normal and you experience symptoms such as severe headache, chest pain, numbness or tingling in the face or limbs, contact your medical office immediately or seek emergency treatment. Home blood pressure monitoring is not a substitute for visits to your doctor.
Things You'll Need
- Chair
- Table
- Blood pressure monitor
- Blood pressure tracker (printed or online)
