Checking your blood pressure at home on a regular basis is important for people on medication or alternative treatments for hypertension. The American Heart Association recommends that people use a home blood pressure monitor as part of their daily routine to reassure themselves and their doctors that medications and other treatments are working. This allows a patient to identify potential problems early.
The Mayo Clinic recommends checking blood pressure with a home monitor to help stay motivated and on track with treatment plans. Furthermore, it allows for a birds-eye view if your blood pressure differs in an environment other than the physician's office and saves on health care costs.
How Can I Check My Own Blood Pressure at Home?
Step 1
Purchase a home blood pressure monitor. There are different kinds of monitors available, each having advantages and disadvantages. The traditional cuff that wraps around the arm is cumbersome and requires the participation of a second person. Free-standing meters can be easily wrapped around the wrist or upper arm by the individual. Single-handed operation is usually the norm with these portable meters. Buttons on the meter can be pushed with the second hand to measure blood pressure once the cuff is securely on the arm . These are reasonably priced and convenient for people who can take their own blood pressure.
Step 2
Review the Dabl Educational Trust or the British Hypertension Society online for detailed lists of recommended home blood pressure monitors that have been tested for performance and accuracy in repeated uses. See the Resources section for links to their websites.
Step 3
Measure the wrist and arm size before choosing a blood pressure monitor to be assured of a proper fit. Check to be sure you can easily read the monitor and see the buttons clearly.
Step 4
Take the new monitor to your health care practitioner's office to check on the accuracy of its measurement by comparing readings from his blood pressure cuff, suggests the Mayo Clinic. The British Hypertension Society recommends that your new monitor be validated, which means it can be relied on for accuracy with consistently repeated results. See Resources for its website, which offers a reference list of devices that have been validated. Many of these machines are available in the United States at pharmacies and online.
Step 5
Ask the doctor to show you how to use the blood pressure monitor while at the office. Make sure she shows you how to attach the cuff to your wrist or arm for an accurate reading.
Step 6
Sit calmly with your legs uncrossed and feet flat on the floor to take blood pressure. The arm you use to take the blood pressure should be supported and at the level of your heart while you take a reading, suggests the Mayo Clinic.
Step 7
Wrap the cuff firmly around the portion of your arm that is appropriate for your machine. It should fit firmly but not cut into the skin.
Step 8
Keep your arm still during the reading. The Mayo Clinic report further advises not to do anything else during the time you are taking a blood pressure reading including talking, eating and even reading. Blood pressure can be affected by external stimuli.
Step 9
Leave the cuff on at the end of the reading and repeat with a second reading a few minutes later to verify test results.
Step 10
Keep a blood pressure reading log where you can write down the numbers each time you take your pressure. The American Heart Association recommends asking your doctor what your normal blood pressure reading and pulse rate are. If your machine has a reading for your pulse rate, record that as well. Take your journal to the doctor when you have a physical.
Step 11
Contact your health care provider if readings vary widely or if you observe sudden, prolonged changes from what you know is normal for you. Blood pressure changes throughout the day and is often higher after meals. Repeated readings over a period of time are important to establish a baseline.
Tips and Warnings
- Always have a new home blood pressure monitor checked ahead of time for accuracy and calibration. Continue to have the machine rechecked several times a year by your doctor to ensure its accuracy.
- The information offered here is for educational purposes and is not meant to take the place of medical advice.
Things You'll Need
- Home blood pressure monitor
