If you have been diagnosed with hypertension, treatment is necessary. In order to determine whether your blood pressure is within the normal range, regular self-monitoring is required. This section explains how to correctly measure your blood pressure at home.
Measurements taken in medical practices are often too high and too infrequent to provide an accurate picture of blood pressure control. Through self-monitoring, you will also learn which activities and situations cause your blood pressure to rise. You can observe how lifestyle modifications, such as starting an exercise program or reducing salt intake, affect your blood pressure.
If medication becomes necessary, regular home measurements discussed with your physician are one of the best ways to improve blood pressure control and optimize medical therapy.
Modern blood pressure monitors are easy to use; however, measurement errors are common. Therefore, it is important to follow the correct measurement rules carefully.
Correct Cuff Size
Standard upper-arm cuffs are usually:
Child cuffs are generally 5–8 cm wide.
For obese or very muscular patients, wider cuffs (15–18 cm) are required. Correct cuff size is extremely important because incorrect cuff sizes may produce falsely low blood pressure readings.
Electronic devices automatically register these measurements. Fully automatic devices also control inflation and deflation automatically and only require activation by pressing a button.
Repeat the measurement after two minutes.
Fully automatic wrist monitors are available. It is important that the display is positioned correctly on the wrist according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Patients with diabetes mellitus frequently have medial sclerosis, a calcification of the middle layer of the vessel wall. In these patients, wrist measurements may be inaccurate.
Therefore:
Best Time for Measurement
To compare daily readings accurately, blood pressure should always be measured at the same time of day because blood pressure naturally fluctuates throughout the day.
Blood pressure may also vary depending on physical or emotional stress.
Always:
Unless otherwise instructed by your physician:
Avoid Measuring After Meals
Blood pressure should not be measured immediately after eating because large amounts of blood are directed to the abdominal organs for digestion, which may result in falsely low readings.
Additional Measurements
Additional measurements are recommended:
These values may provide important information about peak blood pressure elevations.
Blood Pressure Logbook
Always record:
At your next medical appointment, review your measurements together with your physician. Your records help evaluate treatment success and allow your physician to adjust medication dosage according to your individual needs.