How To Measure Blood Pressure Correctly? An essential health indicator is blood pressure. Regular monitoring can aid in the early detection of any health problems.
Table of Contents
How To Measure Blood Pressure Correctly
- The healthcare professional uses a stethoscope to listen to blood flow in the main artery in the upper arm (brachial artery) in order to take a manual blood pressure reading.
- A little hand pump is used to inflate the cuff.
- The arm is squeezed while the cuff expands. For a brief period, blood flow via the artery is stopped.
- In order to gradually release the air in the cuff and restore blood flow, the medical professional releases a valve on the hand pump. The healthcare professional keeps an ear out for blood flow and pulse while taking a blood pressure reading.
Gather the Tools:
- You’ll require a blood pressure monitor, either a digital automated monitor or an aneroid sphygmomanometer with a stethoscope.
- Sit in a serene, supportive location with a healthy back.
Blood pressure Develop Yourself:
- Make sure you are at ease and haven’t smoked or had any caffeine in the last 30 minutes.
- Where the cuff will be put on your upper arm, take off any tight clothes.
Place Yourself:
- Your back should be straight while you sit with your feet flat on the floor.
- Place your arm at heart level on a table or armrest.
- Maintain an upward-facing palm.
Put on the Cuff:
- A little more than an inch above the elbow, slide the cuff onto your upper arm.
- A snug fit is ideal, but not too tight.
Beginning the measurement
- Press the start button if you are using a digital monitor.
- If using an aneroid sphygmomanometer, physically press the bulb to inflate the cuff while using the stethoscope to listen.
Keep a reading log:
- Use the stethoscope or the digital monitor to look for the initial heartbeat when the cuff deflates (a digital monitor will do this automatically).
- Record the readings for the systolic pressure (when you hear the first heartbeat) and the diastolic pressure (when the sound stops).
Check accuracy again:
- With a minute between each measurement, take at least two.
- For a more accurate result, determine the average of these measurements.
Record and observe:
- Note the date and time of your blood pressure readings.
- To best manage your health, discuss the information with your healthcare professional.
Additional Advice
- Talking should be avoided since it might skew the results.
- Try to take your blood pressure readings consistently.
How oftеn you should gеt your blood prеssurе chеckеd dеpеnds on your agе and ovеrall hеalth.
- Pеoplе agе 18 and oldеr with optimal blood prеssurе and no hеart disеasе risk factors should havе a blood prеssurе tеst at lеast oncе еvеry 2 to 5 yеars.
- Pеoplе agе 40 and oldеr — or youngеr with an incrеasеd risk of high blood prеssurе — should havе a blood prеssurе tеst еvеry yеar. Risk factors for high blood prеssurе includе obеsity and bеing Black.
- Pеoplе who havе chronic hеalth conditions, such as high or low blood prеssurе or hеart disеasе, may nееd to havе blood prеssurе tеsts morе oftеn.
- Your hеalth carе providеr may also suggеst that you chеck your blood prеssurе at homе. Automatеd homе blood prеssurе monitors arе еasy to usе. Somе can bе connеctеd to a computеr or cеllphonе, allowing you to sеnd thе information to an onlinе mеdical rеcord. Ask your providеr if this is an option for you.
- It’s a good idеa to kееp a log of your homе blood prеssurе rеadings. Also havе your carе providеr chеck your monitor oncе a yеar to makе surе you arе gеtting accuratе rеadings.
- Homе blood prеssurе monitoring isn’t a substitutе for visits to your hеalth carе providеr.
| Top number (systolic) in mm Hg | And/or | Bottom number (diastolic) in mm Hg | Blood pressure category* | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Below 120 | and | Below 80 | Normal blood pressure | Maintain or adopt a healthy lifestyle. |
| 120-129 | and | Below 80 | Elevated blood pressure | Maintain or adopt a healthy lifestyle. |
| 130-139 | or | 80-89 | Stage 1 high blood pressure (hypertension) | Maintain or adopt a healthy lifestyle. Talk to your provider about taking one or more medications. |
| 140 or higher | or | 90 or higher | Stage 2 high blood pressure (hypertension) | Maintain or adopt a healthy lifestyle. Talk to your provider about taking more than one medication. |
| Sources: American College of Cardiology; American Heart Association | ||||
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