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Anyone who has high blood pressure, or is at risk for it, can benefit from home blood pressure monitoring, especially women with diabetes or kidney disease. You might also want to consider taking your blood pressure at home if your levels tend to fluctuate. Getting an accurate accounting of the variations will help your doctor better treat your blood pressure.
Our members and decision-makers are healthcare professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to represent professionals in the field of cardiology in Europe and beyond. Monitoring your own blood pressure and heart rate can make you feel more in control of your condition and have more confidence in the treatment you have been given. You can also share this information with your doctor or heart failure nurse. Monitoring can provide information that may improve your management period. Ask your health insurance provider if your policy covers the cost of a home blood pressure monitor.
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The top number is your systolic blood pressure, and the bottom number is your diastolic blood pressure. Look at the screen to get your blood pressure reading. Taking your blood pressure at home is easy with a digital blood pressure monitor. You have to try the blood pressure cuff first, to see if it’s the right size for you.
What’s considered a normal or healthy blood pressure range?
No matter what type of home blood pressure monitor you choose, proper use requires training and practice. Take the device to your health care provider to make sure the one you've chosen is the best fit for you. Not everyone can track blood pressure at home. For those with irregular heartbeats, home blood pressure monitors might not give an accurate reading. Ever wondered about blood pressure between doctor’s visits? How often should people be checking blood pressure?
At the beginning, measure your blood pressure at least twice daily. Take it first in the morning before eating or taking any medications. Each time you measure, take two or three readings to make sure your results are the same.
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Some blood pressure monitors can take several readings and report the averages. Caffeinated beverages, cigarettes, and exercise can all affect a blood pressure reading. For the most accurate results possible, try to sit still and avoid consuming caffeine for at least 30 minutes before taking the reading.
Blood pressure machines are widely available for purchase at drug stores and online, and many machines keep track of the measurements for you. Measuring your blood pressure at home can help you work with your physician to keep your blood pressure within a “normal” range between appointments. Patients often are nervous about what their blood pressure will be when it’s measured at their doctor’s office, and that anxiety causes their blood pressure to go up. It’s known as “white coat hypertension,” and it’s particularly common among elderly patients. Talk to a health care professional about making changes to your diet and lifestyle in order to drop your blood pressure. After several minutes, follow the same steps to take another measurement.
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Let the cuff deflate gradually.The gauge should fall 2 mm, or two lines on the gauge, per second. The gauge needs to be positioned where you can see it. Check the tightness of the cuff by slipping two fingertips underneath.
Dr. Randall Zusman, director of the Division of Hypertension at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital, recommends home blood pressure monitoring to his patients. "It gives some feedback about how they're doing, and that helps reinforce the efforts they're making," he says. Taking your blood pressure at home also helps avoid "white-coat syndrome," the nervous surge in blood pressure some people experience during a doctor's visit. A recent study has shown that home blood pressure devices are not always accurate, which could lead to incorrect diagnosis and treatment. While most home blood pressure devices are generally accurate, there can be differences in how they measure your readings. This means that you need to take special care when using a home device to make sure you get the most accurate reading possible.
Eating a diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products and low in saturated fat and cholesterol can lower high blood pressure by up to 11 mm Hg. Examples of eating plans that can help control blood pressure are the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet and the Mediterranean diet. Regular physical activity can lower high blood pressure by about 5 to 8 mm Hg. It's important to keep exercising to keep blood pressure from rising again. As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day.
Safe blood pressure medications while pregnant women are more widely used in hypertension, and when they are similar. Some people who are taking medications to reduce their blood pressure medications in the United States and Processine Foods. When to take hypertension medication to keep your blood pressure reading and your child. Learn more about your blood pressure, what blood pressure readings mean, and how to lower your blood pressure.
Empty your bladder and ensure at least 5 minutes of quiet rest before measurements. "Blood pressure fluctuates a lot, so a patient shouldn't worry about one high reading," Muntner said. The device should measure blood pressure on the upper arm, which produce a more reliable result than those that measure from the wrist. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
This A5 booklet provides clear instructions on how to measure blood pressure at home. It covers how to choose an accurate monitor, how to use the machine correctly at home and when to measure. Learn how to use your home monitor and download our home blood pressure monitoring resources. To accurately monitor your blood pressure over time, you shouldn't just plop down in a chair whenever to do a reading. Instead, you should implement some simple practices that help ensure accuracy. Slide the blood pressure cuff onto your upper arm and secure it so that it sits snugly about one inch above the crease of your elbow.
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