INTRODUCTION
If taken properly, home blood pressure measurements are shown to help improve the health of patients with hypertension. This is because they:
Increase the accuracy of your blood pressure measurements.
Different factors such as stress, increased physical activity or changes in diet can cause large changes in blood pressure. Because of this, the blood pressure taken at the doctor’s office might not represent your typical blood pressure. There’s even a name for high blood pressure which only occurs in the doctor’s office: White coat hypertension.
Taking blood pressure measurements in your own home and with your usual daily activities can help make sure your blood pressure readings show your typical blood pressure. Taking more frequent measurements can help to show that there are no extra things (for example, a stressful day) which are causing your blood pressure to look higher than normal.
Help get you the correct treatment.
As discussed above, at-home blood pressure testing can improve the accuracy of blood pressure measurements. In hypertension, those measurements determine treatment. If they’re not correct, you may end up receiving too much or too little treatment.
Are more convenient than a trip to the doctor's office.
Although it may seem like a small thing, compared to a long wait at a doctor’s clinic, taking your blood pressure at home is quicker and more efficient. It’s easier to fit it into your day and can be done in the comfort of your own home.
Monitor the effect of treatments.
For many people, high blood pressure does not cause any noticeable symptoms. Because of this silence, it’s difficult to feel if a blood pressure medication has had an effect. The only way to accurately determine if your blood pressure is getting lower is to take frequent blood pressure measurements. At-home measurements are the most accurate and effective way of doing this.
HOW TO MEASURE BLOOD PRESSURE
In order to get the best measurement possible, it's important that you setup properly and follow the proper method of measuring your blood pressure.
Getting Set Up
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Measurements should be taken using a validated electronic device. Validated means that studies have been done showing the device produces an accurate blood pressure reading. Wrist and finger devices are not recommended since there’s not enough evidence to support their accuracy and they may produce poorer measurements. For a list of validated and recommended devices, see here:
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Choose a cuff with an appropriate bladder size matched to the size of your arm. Bladder width should be close to 40% of arm circumference and bladder length should cover 80%-100% of arm circumference (most cuffs will come with diagrams/size recommendations to help make figuring this out easier). Select the cuff size as recommended by its manufacturer.
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If possible, have your doctor check the accuracy of your device.
Checking Blood Pressure at Home
It’s recommended that you take your blood pressure twice per day, once in the morning and once at night. Because you want to limit things which can make your blood pressure look higher than it really is, make sure to take your blood pressure:
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Before breakfast and 2 hours after dinner
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In the morning, before taking your blood pressure medications
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One hour after any caffeine (coffee, Coke, energy drinks) or tobacco (cigarette, cigar, e-cigarette, vape)
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30 minutes after exercise
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After 5 minutes of resting in a comfortable position, without speaking
When sitting down to take your blood pressure, you want to make sure that you are:
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In an environment without distractions
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Sitting comfortably with your back supported and legs uncrossed with feet flat on the floor
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Not talking or moving for 5 minutes
To begin taking your blood pressure, place the BP cuff on your non-dominant arm with the lower edge of the cuff at 3 cm above the elbow. The cuff should be snug, but not tight; you should be able to fit about two fingers below it.
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If the systolic BP difference between arms is greater than 10 mm Hg, in which case the arm with the highest value obtained should be used
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Make sure that your arm is bare and supported with the BP cuff at heart level (Ex. laying on the arm on a chair or the table in front of you
Follow the instructions for your individual machine to take the measurements. Make sure to record all the numbers you measure. A chart for doing so can be found here:
VIDEO TUTORIALS
Watch this custom-made video from Dr. Dresser on:
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Why monitoring your blood pressure at home is important
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Picking a good blood pressure cuff
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How to take a good measurement
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What to do with the results
OTHER VIDEOS
Manual Inflation
This is an example of how to measure your blood pressure at home by inflating the cuff yourself.
Automatic Inflation
This is an example of how to measure your blood pressure at home with a cuff that inflates automatically.
Note: None of these videos are meant to be endorsements for the specific cuffs. Most companies produce videos showing how to use their unique cuffs, so don’t be afraid to see if there’s a video for your own chosen device.
Last updated April 24, 2020
Page created by: Alanna Kozak, Jessica Chang (Meds 2022)