Because high blood pressure typically doesn't induce any outward symptoms, taking blood pressure measurements regularly can be a good way to monitor heart health. Home monitoring can help diagnose problems early and can help you keep track of fluctuations if you have already been diagnosed with high blood pressure.
Step 1
Choose the right size blood pressure cuff. Most adults will take a standard adult-sized cuff, but larger individuals may need a special large-sized device. Small pediatric blood pressure cuffs are available for children.
Step 2
Sit down with your arm extended on a table in front of you level with your heart. Use pillows to prop up your arm if necessary.
Step 3
Wrap the cuff around the upper arm approximately an inch above the bend of the elbow. Make sure that the cuff is secured tightly.
Step 4
Place the earpieces of the stethoscope into your ears and place the head of the stethoscope over the brachial artery in the bend of the elbow. Find the brachial artery by feeling for the pulse with your first and middle fingers. You won't hear the pulse through the stethoscope until the cuff is inflated.
Step 5
Close the valve on the bulb by tightening it. Pump the bulb rapidly until the number on the dial reads 30 mmHg higher than your normal blood pressure reading. This inflates the cuff on your arm. MedlinePlus recommends that if you don't know your normal reading, pump until the dial reads 210 mmHg.
Step 6
Open the valve slightly and allow the pressure to slowly drop. Aim for a rate of 2 to 5 mmHg per second.
Step 7
Listen carefully to the stethoscope and record the measurement when you start to hear a heartbeat. This is the systolic blood pressure.
Step 8
Continue listening until the sound of the heartbeat disappears. Record this number as the diastolic pressure.
Step 9
Release the valve completely and let the air out of the cuff. Remove the cuff or start over again if you want to take a second reading.
Step 10
Write down the systolic measurement over the diastolic measurement. This is your blood pressure. Also write down the date and time the test was taken and which arm you used, so that you can report it to a doctor if necessary.
Tips and Warnings
- A blood pressure reading is most accurate when the person is at rest, so don't take it immediately after exercising or when stressed. Some people experience high blood pressure whenever they are at the doctor's office, but obtain normal readings at home, where they are under less stress. If you monitor your blood pressure at home and find this to be the case, notify your doctor. He may decide to use your home measurements for diagnosis instead of measurements done in the office. Digital blood pressure monitors are available with sensors that take the place of the stethoscope and may inflate or deflate the cuff on their own.
- If you are taking prescribed blood pressure medication, don't stop taking it if you think your blood pressure has stabilized or if you think it isn't working. Talk to your doctor about adjusting or changing your medication if you have concerns. Anything over 140/90 is considered high blood pressure. A reading between 120 to 139 on the systolic measurement and 80 to 90 on the diastolic measurement is considered prehypertension. You should report any abnormal reading to a doctor.
Things You'll Need
- Home blood pressure monitor kit
- Chair
- Table
