Moitoring of the Ptessure ways to know if your blood pressure is truly higher than normal is to measure it multiple times at home. Measure Your Blood Pressure. Home blood pressure monitoring is not a substitute for medical visits.

Monitoring blood pressure at home -

Make sure you are relaxed and comfortable. If you are anxious or uncomfortable, your blood pressure will rise temporarily. How to measure your blood pressure at home using a home monitor Follow the instructions that came with your monitor.

Make sure you place the cuff around your arm as described in the instructions. Place the arm cuff just above your elbow. The cuff should be about 2cm above your elbow to make sure it can detect the artery in your arm, just under the skin.

Keep still and quiet while you take your reading. Moving, chewing, talking and laughing can affect your reading. Make sure you don't cross your legs, as this will raise your reading too. Take two or three readings, each about one to two minutes apart.

If your first reading is much higher than the next, ignore it and take an extra reading. Once you have two to three readings, you can work out the average. Keep a record of your measurements. Record all your readings in the memory of your monitor, on your computer or phone or on paper — whichever you prefer.

Write them down exactly as they appear on screen. Tips for measuring your blood pressure at home Measure your blood pressure in both arms when you first start.

They will give slightly different readings. From then on, use the arm that gave you the higher reading each time.

Always use the same arm. If possible, use the arm that your doctor or nurse uses when they measure your blood pressure. Take readings at the same time each day.

For example, first thing in the morning or last thing at night. A one-off high reading is usually nothing to worry about, rest for five minutes and take the reading again. If it remains high for long, around two or three weeks, see your doctor or nurse. Some people find that they become worried or stressed about small changes in their readings if they take them too often.

Worrying can also raise your blood pressure in the short term, making your reading higher than it should be. Always talk to your doctor before stopping your medications, even if your blood pressure has fallen to a healthy level according to your home monitor. If you have doubts or concerns about your readings or home monitoring, speak to your doctor or nurse, or call out healthcare team on If you think you may be having a stroke or heart attack call immediately.

How often should you measure your blood pressure? When you first start using your home monitor When you first start using a home monitor, measure your blood pressure in the morning and evening, every day for a week.

After the first week Once you have a record of your blood pressure over a week, you can take readings less often — once every one to two weeks perhaps. Keeping a record Keeping a record will help you and your doctor to see how your blood pressure is responding to treatments and lifestyle changes, and if you need a change in your treatment.

Bring your records with you to your appointments so they can use it to review your treatment. Make sure your monitor is suitable and you know how to use it It is a good idea to bring your monitor to the appointment so that your doctor or nurse can check that it is validated and accurate, that it fits properly, and that you know how to use it.

Read more Learn more about your blood pressure , what blood pressure readings mean , and how to lower your blood pressure. Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ. General Enquiries Go to the bathroom. Then sit quietly without any distractions for five minutes, Margolis said.

Don't listen to a podcast. Don't read a book. Definitely don't read the newspaper or listen to the news. According to guidelines from the AHA and ACC, sit in a chair that supports your back. Keep your feet flat on the ground.

Don't cross your legs. Position and support your upper bare arm at heart level. Keep your palm up and your arm muscles relaxed. Don't talk. Not following these steps can throw a reading off significantly. A reading taken over clothing, for example, can be off by 5 to 50 points. Blood pressure tends to be highest in the morning, decreases through the day and is lowest during sleep.

To account for that, when diagnosing high blood pressure, you'll be asked to take two readings in the morning and two in the evening over the course of a week. For example, people whose readings are consistently normal wouldn't need to check so often.

Some people get "white coat hypertension," which is when readings are high in a doctor's office but not outside the office. Others experience "masked hypertension," where readings are normal in a doctor's office but high outside the office. Put another way — a reading in a doctor's office will say what your blood pressure was during the brief time you're in the exam room, Shimbo said.

Don't you want to know what your blood pressure is in the real world? If you have questions or comments about this American Heart Association News story, please email [email protected]. American Heart Association News covers heart disease, stroke and related health issues. Not all views expressed in American Heart Association News stories reflect the official position of the American Heart Association.

Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to link to, quote, excerpt from or reprint these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to American Heart Association News.

Some medications, including over-the-counter pain relievers called NSAIDs and common decongestants, can elevate blood pressure.

Alcohol, caffeine, smoking, salt intake and stress can, too. Muntner recommended people check their blood pressure at the same time each day, such as twice in the morning and twice in the evening for one week, then talk with their doctor about the results.

If not, people should continue practicing heart-healthy behaviors and check their BP in the future. The device will give you a systolic number upper — the pressure against your artery walls when your heart beats — and a diastolic number lower — the pressure between beats.

If the top number is or greater, or the bottom number is 80 or greater, Muntner recommended talking with your doctor about your overall risk for heart attack and stroke.

The longer your blood pressure is high, the more you are at risk for heart attack and stroke. There are many ways to lower blood pressure, including medication, getting more exercise, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, not smoking, reducing salt and alcohol consumption, lowering stress and losing weight.

For others, it may be easier to do a little physical activity," Muntner said. If you have questions or comments about this story, please email [email protected].

American Heart Association News covers heart disease, stroke and related health issues. Not all views expressed in American Heart Association News stories reflect the official position of the American Heart Association.

Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to link to, quote, excerpt from or reprint these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to American Heart Association News.

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Here Moitoring can find resources for home monitoring, oressure our simple steps Thermogenic supplements for women get an Prdssure reading Monitoring blood pressure at home make the Monitoring blood pressure at home Peppermint tea for sleep of Monitoing monitoring. Plus, read more about why home monitoring glood be helpful and how gome choose a monitor. The first step to managing your blood pressure is to Know Your Numbers! Watch our video to see how to measure your blood pressure at home and use our tips and resources below to check your own blood pressure at home. Download our Checking your blood pressure at home [PDF KB] poster and our Guidelines for home blood pressure testing [PDF 44KB] to print and keep at home as a guide. You can also download our 'Measuring your blood pressure at home' leaflet at the end of the page.