How to take your blood pressure
You may need to check your blood pressure at home:
- To check if your blood pressure is elevated (Hypertension)
- To check blood pressure over time and keep log for your health care provider
- To make sure your blood pressure medication was effective
Supplies Needed
You will need a blood pressure machine or monitor. You can find and purchase one at your neighborhood drug store or online.
At NewEra HH, we recommend you:
- Choose one with an arm cuff
- Choose one that wraps around your upper arm. (Only 1-2 fingers should fit between the cuff and your arm).
- We strongly advice against using one that wraps around the wrist or finger.
Preparing to check your blood pressure
Avoid the following things 30 minutes prior to checking:
- Drinking caffeinated drinks
- Drinking Alcoholic beverages
- Eating
- Smoking
- Exercising
Five minutes prior to checking your blood pressure
- Sit up straight in your dining room table. Avoid sitting on a soft couch and maintain proper posture.
- Do not talk. Sit quietly for at least 5 minutes
Let’s get to it
Now that you got the basics. Follow these simple instruction to check your blood pressure accurately. You can hit this link for visual learning from The American Heart Association. https://youtu.be/rAwliNWe1bI
How to take your blood pressure
- Sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor (DO NOT cross you ankles or legs)
- Rest your left arm at heart level. You may need a table or desk for this.
- Wrap the blood pressure cuff around the upper part of your left arm. The cuff should be about 1 inch above your elbow and is better if applied to bare skin.
- Fit the cuff snugly around your arm. You should be able to place 1-2 fingers between the cuff and your skin.
- Press the power button and sit quietly while the cuff fills with air and loses air.
- Write down your results
- Wait 2-3 minutes and repeat this process again for a second reading.
As always, we are here to help! At NewEraHH (NEHH), we aim to provide education and make information easily accessible to our patients, families and communities. This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your primary care provider.
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