The
following are a few important tips for accurate home
monitoring of blood pressure:
Avoid caffeine, cigarettes, and
alcohol for 30 minutes before measuring blood
pressure.
Relax for three to five minutes
before taking the reading.
Sit in a comfortable position,
with legs and ankles uncrossed and back supported.
Place the upper arm or wrist inside
the cuff. The bottom edge of the arm cuff should
be 1 inch above the crease of the elbow if the
cuff is placed on the upper arm. Be sure to remove
any jewelry or constrictive clothing that might
interfere with placement of the cuff.
Place the arm on a table so that
the arm cuff is at the level of the heart. A pillow
can be used if necessary to raise the arm. If
a wrist model is used, the wrist must be positioned
at heart level to obtain an accurate reading.
Turn the power on and start the
machine. With the automatic model, the cuff inflates
with the push of a button; with the semiautomatic
model, the cuff must be inflated by squeezing
a rubber bulb. After the cuff is inflated, an
automatic mechanism slowly reduces the cuff pressure.
The unit then displays the systolic
and diastolic blood pressures as well as the pulse
on the screen. Individuals should keep track of
their blood pressure readings, note the time of
day when they were obtained, and bring this information
to their next doctor's visit. If the unit is equipped
with a memory function, this feature can be used
to keep a record of blood pressure measurements.
Repeat blood pressure measurement:
Wait two to three minutes before re-inflating
the cuff, average the two readings and record.
Blood pressure is typically higher
between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. This is the most important
time of the day to measure your blood pressure.
However, also measure your blood pressure later
in the day as it will take 10-15 readings at different
times to get a true picture of your blood pressure.
Blood pressure readings should
be below 135/85 at home or at any location outside
of the office at least 90% of the time (below
130/80 if you have diabetes).
