Skip to main content
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 21 August 2019
A person's arm cuffed by a BP monitor

If you plan to measure your blood pressure at home, you will need to buy a home blood pressure monitor. It is important to be sure that the blood pressure monitor you choose is accurate and the right one for you. Also, you must use the monitor properly.

Sometimes a doctor may ask you to monitor your hypertension/blood pressure more frequently. In such cases, it may make sense to buy a BP monitor for home use. Here is some guidance on how to choose a BP monitor and how best to use it.

How to choose a BP monitor:

  • Select a monitor that goes around your upper arm. Wrist and finger monitors are not as precise.
  • Select an automated monitor, which has a cuff that inflates itself.
  • Look for a digital readout that is large and bright enough to see clearly.
  • Consider a monitor that also plugs into your smartphone to transfer the readings to an app, which then creates a graph of your progress. Some devices can send readings wirelessly to your phone.

How to use the BP monitor properly:

  • Avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages 30 minutes beforehand.
  • Avoid smoking 30 min before.
  • Sit quietly for five minutes with your back supported and your legs uncrossed. 
  • Support your arm so your elbow is at or near heart level.
  • Wrap the cuff over bare skin.
  • Don't talk during the measurement.
  • Leave the deflated cuff in place, wait 1 to 3 minutes, then take a second reading. If the readings are close, average them. If not, repeat again and average the three readings.
  • Keep a record of your blood pressure readings, including the time of day.

PatientsEngage Tips:

Do not take readings too frequently. It will cause anxiousness and higher readings.

Make sure you get the BP monitor calibrated with your GP/family doctor 

Make sure the battery is not low. Low batteries can make BP reading inaccurate. 

 

Must Read: 10 Clear Tips To Manage Hypertension

 

Download Yoga for Hypertension EBook

 

Condition

Stories

  • Yoga Urdhwahastottansana - Hypertension, Respiratory
    Urdhwahastottansana opens up the chest, improves blood circulation around the thoracic area and the heart and is beneficial for respiratory disorders, hypertension and heart problems Meaning Urdhwa means upward, hasta is hands, uttana is stretching and asana is posture. Benefits of Urdhwahastottansana 1. This asana stretches both sides of the body, so it massages, loosens and exercises the sides of the ribcage and the waist 2. Opens up the chest 3. Improves blood circulation around the…
  • Image: Stock pic with a definition of hypertension with a red underline
    Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
    The medical term for high blood pressure is hypertension. Blood pressure is the force with which the blood pushes against the walls of the arteries when it is pumped by the heart. Blood pressure rises and falls throughout the day. When blood pressure stays elevated over time, it is called high blood pressure. Every blood pressure reading has two numbers. The number at the top (systolic) shows the force of the blood in the arteries as the heart beats. The number at the bottom…