How Many Blood Pressure Readings Should You Take

How to use a abode blood pressure monitor

• 

  Be still. Don't smoke, beverage caffeinated beverages or practise inside 30 minutes before measuring your blood pressure. Empty your bladder and ensure at least 5 minutes of quiet rest before measurements.
• Sit down correctly. Sit down with your back direct and supported (on a dining chair, rather than a sofa). Your anxiety should exist flat on the floor and your legs should not exist crossed. Your arm should exist supported on a flat surface (such as a tabular array) with the upper arm at heart level. Make sure the bottom of the gage is placed directly above the curve of the elbow. Check your monitor's instructions for an analogy or have your healthcare provider show you how.
• Measure at the aforementioned time every day. It's important to have the readings at the same fourth dimension each day, such as morn and evening. It is best to take the readings daily however ideally starting time 2 weeks afterwards a change in handling and during the week before your side by side date.
• Take multiple readings and tape the results. Each fourth dimension you measure, have two or 3 readings one minute apart and record the results using a printable (PDF) tracker. If your monitor has built-in memory to shop your readings, take information technology with you to your appointments. Some monitors may also allow you lot to upload your readings to a secure website after you register your profile.
• Don't have the measurement over clothes.

Download a PDF canvas that shows you how to measure your blood pressure properly. As well available in Spanish and Chinese.

Know your numbers

Learn what the numbers in your blood pressure reading mean.

Claret Force per unit area Chart

Claret PRESSURE CATEGORY	SYSTOLIC mm Hg (upper number)	and/or	DIASTOLIC mm Hg (lower number)
NORMAL	LESS THAN 120	and	LESS THAN eighty
ELEVATED	120 – 129	and	LESS THAN 80
Loftier BLOOD Pressure (HYPERTENSION) Stage 1	130 – 139	or	80 – 89
High BLOOD Force per unit area (HYPERTENSION) Phase 2	140 OR College	or	xc OR College
HYPERTENSIVE Crunch (consult your doc immediately)	HIGHER THAN 180	and/or	HIGHER THAN 120

Note: A diagnosis of high blood pressure must be confirmed with a medical professional person. A doctor should also evaluate any unusually low claret force per unit area readings.

Download this chart: English Jpeg | English PDF | Spanish Jpeg | Spanish PDF | Traditional Chinese Jpeg | Traditional Chinese (PDF)

If y'all get a loftier blood pressure level reading

• A single high reading is not an immediate cause for alarm. If you get a reading that is slightly or moderately higher than normal, take your blood force per unit area a few more times and consult your healthcare professional to verify if there' due south a health business or whether at that place may be any issues with your monitor.
• If your blood pressure readings suddenly exceed 180/120 mm Hg, wait five minutes and test again. If your readings are still unusually high, contact your doctor immediately. Y'all could be experiencing a hypertensive crisis.
• If your blood force per unit area is higher than 180/120 mm Hg and you are experiencing signs of possible organ impairment such as breast pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness/weakness, change in vision, difficulty speaking, do not wait to meet if your pressure comes downwardly on its ain. Call 911.

AHA Recommendation

The American Center Association recommends home monitoring for all people with high blood pressure to aid the healthcare provider determine whether treatments are working. Home monitoring (self-measured blood pressure) is not a substitute for regular visits to your physician. If you have been prescribed medication to lower your blood pressure, don't terminate taking your medication without consulting your doctor, even if your blood pressure level readings are in the normal range during home monitoring.

Choosing a home claret pressure monitor

The American Heart Association recommends an automated, cuff-style, bicep (upper-arm) monitor.

• Wrist and finger monitors are not recommended because they yield less reliable readings.
• Choose a monitor that has been validated. If yous are unsure, inquire your doctor or chemist for advice or find options at validatebp.org(link opens in new window).
• When selecting a blood pressure level monitor for a senior, pregnant woman or child, make sure information technology is validated for these weather condition.
• Make sure the gage fits — measure around your upper arm and cull a monitor that comes with the right size gage.

In one case you've purchased your monitor, bring it to your adjacent appointment

Have your doctor check to see that you are using it correctly and getting the aforementioned results as the equipment in the office. Programme to bring your monitor in once a year to make sure the readings are accurate.

Dwelling blood pressure monitoring may be peculiarly useful for:

• Anyone diagnosed with high blood pressure (HBP or hypertension).
• Individuals starting high claret pressure level treatment to determine its effectiveness.
• People requiring closer monitoring, particularly individuals with run a risk factors for loftier claret force per unit area and/or conditions  related to high claret pressure.
• Pregnant women, experiencing pregnancy-induced hypertension and/or preeclampsia.
• Evaluating potentially false readings, like:
  • People who only take high readings at the doctor' s role ("white coat" hypertension).
  • People who simply have loftier readings at dwelling house simply not at the physician' s part ("masked" hypertension).
• Note: People with atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias may not exist good candidates for home monitoring considering electronic domicile blood force per unit area devices may not be able to give authentic measurements. Ask your medico to recommend a monitoring method that works for yous.

Left-arm vs. right-arm claret pressure level

Several studies take been done to decide what is a normal variation betwixt correct and left arm. In full general, any departure of 10 mm Hg or less is considered normal and is non a cause for business organization.

Why keep a blood pressure periodical?

One blood pressure level measurement is similar a snapshot. It just tells what your claret pressure is at that moment. A record of readings taken over time provides a "time-lapse" motion picture of your claret pressure that can help you partner with your physician to ensure that your treatments to lower high blood pressure (HBP or hypertension) are working.

Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisers. Run across our editorial policies and staff.

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Source: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings/monitoring-your-blood-pressure-at-home

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