How to Measure Your Blood Pressure at Home
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Measuring your blood pressure (BP) at home is an important part of managing hypertension. This condition, also called high blood pressure, occurs when the force of blood flow through your veins is too high on a consistent basis.
Nearly half of Americans have high blood pressure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and many don’t even know they have it. Uncontrolled hypertension can be dangerous, as it leads to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Who Should Check Their Blood Pressure at Home?
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that all people with hypertension check their blood pressure regularly at home and share the results with their physician.
“This will help the physician to figure out when pharmacological therapy is required or if the prescribed dose is adequate,” says Giv Heidari-Bateni, MD, a cardiologist and director of the Hypertension Center at Loma Linda University International Heart Institute in California.
People who are at an increased risk, particularly those who are overweight or have a family history of hypertension, may also want to check their blood pressure at home regularly to screen for the condition. “This can be started at the age of 18 and done more frequently after 40,” Dr. Heidari-Bateni says.
Additionally, some patients may have high blood pressure readings in the doctor’s office due to anxiety or stress, but normal blood pressure at home — a phenomenon known as white coat hypertension, per the Mayo Clinic.
“If this is suspected, patients need to check blood pressure at home to prove that it is well controlled in a non-healthcare setting,” says Claire Sullivan, MD, a cardiologist at University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute and an assistant professor of cardiology at Case Western University School of Medicine in Cleveland.
What to Look for When Buying an At-Home Blood Pressure Kit
At-home blood pressure monitoring kits are available at most drugstores and pharmacies. Experts recommend using an automated or digital device.
“In the past there was a belief that mercury BP machines were more accurate,” Heidari-Bateni says. “This was shown to be not necessarily correct. Nowadays, we recommend automated BP machines for home or office as it’s easier to work with them.”
Look for a monitor with an upper arm cuff rather than a wrist cuff, which tends to be less accurate, advises Maureen Wang, MD, a cardiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and Medical Group Brooklyn.
“Make sure that the cuff size is large enough for your arm,” she says. “A smaller size can inappropriately raise your blood pressure readings.”
For individuals who are tech-savvy, Dr. Wang recommends a Bluetooth-enabled monitor, which can automatically log data on an app for easy sharing with healthcare providers.
How Often Should You Check Your Blood Pressure at Home?
The AHA recommends checking your blood pressure daily. “It’s best to check twice a day, once in the morning due to elevated cortisol levels, and once in the late afternoon or early evening,” Wang says.
You’ll also want to pay attention to your environment. “Make sure you are not checking BP right after exercising, eating, having caffeine or nicotine, or undergoing a stressful situation,” Dr. Sullivan says. “Patients should check their blood pressure in a calm situation.”
How to Get an Accurate Blood Pressure Reading at Home
Incorrectly taken blood pressure can lead to false readings and can be confusing to both patients and physicians, Sullivan notes.
To make sure you get an accurate reading, the AHA recommends the following steps:
Sit still. Use the bathroom before taking your blood pressure and sit in a restful position for at least five minutes before you begin. Avoid jittering or bouncing your legs. Don’t talk while your blood pressure is being taken.
Get into the correct position. Sit up straight with your back firmly against a chair. Opt for a sturdy chair like a dining chair rather than the sofa. Place both feet flat on the ground and do not cross your legs. Rest your arm on a flat surface, such as a table.
Place the cuff correctly. Keeping your upper arm at heart level, fit the cuff above your elbow. Don’t put the cuff over clothing, as doing so can affect readings. Follow the directions that came with your kit or your physician’s instructions.
Stick to a schedule. Check your blood pressure at the same time every day.
Take multiple readings. Every time you check your blood pressure, take two readings a minute or two apart. “The reason for this is to make sure both are almost the same,” Heidari-Bateni says. “If there is a big difference, give it an extra couple minutes and recheck the BP.”
Log your readings and bring them to your next doctor’s appointment. In between appointments, if you notice any unusual readings or your blood pressure remains elevated for a period of time, contact your physician.
“Most importantly, do not start or stop medication for BP before discussing it with your physician,” Sullivan says. “Also, remember that lifestyle modifications such as low sodium and exercise are great ways to lower BP naturally.”
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