A simple guide for checking your blood pressure at home
If you want to improve your health, but feel overwhelmed with where to begin, you’ve come to the right place. Dr. Jean Ann Beaton, a board-certified internal medicine physician at Dupont Private Health is here to share a simple guide for checking your blood pressure at home.
High blood pressure can be sneaky, often revealing no visible signs or symptoms. In fact, many people may not even be aware that they are experiencing hypertension, also known as high blood pressure.
With 45% of the US adult population affected by hypertension, it’s important to stay on top of our blood pressure levels when it comes to maintaining good health.
Today, I’ll be sharing a general guide to how to check your blood pressure at home and going over what constitutes blood pressure levels.
what does blood pressure even mean?
According to The American Heart Association:
“Our blood pressure is responsible for our tissues and organs. When the heart beats, it creates pressure that pushes blood through a network of tube-shaped blood vessels, which include arteries, veins, and capillaries.
Credit: American Medical Association
This pressure — blood pressure — is the result of two forces: The first force (systolic pressure) occurs as blood pumps out of the heart and into the arteries that are part of the circulatory system. The second force (diastolic pressure) is created as the heart rests between heartbeats.”
Blood pressure affects many aspects of how our body functions. It can affect our arteries, heart, brain, kidneys, eyes, bones, quality of sleep, and so much more. When you have hypertension, checking your blood pressure is essential.
Here are some tips on how to successfully check your blood pressure at home.
Get the correct device
Using a proper device is the first step to successfully checking your blood pressure on your own. Make sure you have the correct cuff size. To do so, wrap a tape measure around the mid-upper arm, and measure in centimeters for the most accurate number. The chart below from the American Medical Association can help you determine the cuff size based on your arm measurement.
ValidateBP.org is a reliable source that gives access to a list of blood pressure devices and will help you determine which device is the best fit for you.
Credit: National Pharmacy
Make sure you are seated in the correct posture:
You want to have your back supported, arm supported, and feet on the floor. Sit upright and relaxed. Again, make sure the blood pressure device you are using is the correct-sized cuff on the upper arm.
Correctly place the device for optimum testing
Once you confirm that you have the correct arm cuff device, place the cuff on the bare upper part of your arm (about one inch above the bend of your elbow).
Ensure that the tubing is placed over the front center of your arm so that the sensor is in the correct placement.
Next, place the end of the cuff so that it is evenly tightened around your arm. According to Mayo Clinic, you should place it tight enough so that you can only slip two fingertips under the top edge of the cuff.”
Interpret your results
Normal Blood pressure: less than or equal to 120/80 mm Hg
*** Note: Less than 90/60 mm Hg would be considered abnormally low (or hypotension)
Elevated Blood pressure: a systolic blood pressure between 120-129 mm Hg
Hypertension: a blood pressure greater than 130/80 mm Hg
To review, defining good blood pressure is measured through 2 different forces:
Systolic pressure: the maximum pressure the heart exerts while beating (shown as the top number of a BP).
Diastolic pressure: the amount of pressure in the arteries between beats (shown as the bottom number of a BP).
Determining what good blood pressure is based on your readings.
Hypertension is common and can affect many US adults. Taking your blood pressure at home is a simple step to keep an eye on your BP levels. Return to this guide for an effective and simple way to measure your blood pressure.
If you’d like specific tips on how to manage hypertension, visit my recent article on all things hypertension here.
This article does not constitute the practice of medicine, healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should always talk to your healthcare provider regarding your specific medical needs.
