Measuring Your Blood Pressure at Home, the Right Way

A blood pressure reading changes with what you did in the last few minutes, so the way you measure matters as much as the device. These five steps give readings you and your doctor can trust.

Five steps

• Rest first. Sit quietly for five minutes, and avoid coffee, smoking and exercise for half an hour before.
• Sit properly. Back supported, feet flat on the floor, legs uncrossed.
• Arm at heart level. Rest your arm on a table, with the cuff on bare skin about two fingers above the elbow.
• Stay still and silent. Talking during the reading can raise it.
• Take two readings. One minute apart, and write both down with the date and time.

Measure at the same times each day, for example morning and evening, and bring your notes to your next appointment. If a reading is much higher than usual, rest and measure again, and contact your doctor if it stays high.