How to take your blood pressure well

February 24, 2020

Measuring blood pressure at health home is useful for diagnosing hypertension, or monitoring the effectiveness of antihypertensive therapy. Your doctor may ask you to do this yourself with a blood pressure monitoring (self-measurement). Here are some tips for measuring your blood pressure.Get to know your device by reading its user manual.

How to properly measure your blood pressure?

  • Choose a calm environment.

  • Do not smoke and sit comfortably at least five minutes before taking the measurement.

  • Place your device on a table.

  • Always use the same arm to make the measurements.

  • Take off your watch and any clothing hugging your arm.

  • Place your forearm on the table, elbow bent.

  • Position your device:

  • Arm blood pressure monitoring: put on and adjust the cuff on your arm at the correct height in the direction shown (hose directed towards your hand). Please note, if the cuff is positioned incorrectly, this can lead to inaccurate measurements.

  • Wrist blood pressure monitoring: place the blood pressure monitoring about one centimeter from the wrist. Align your wrist at heart height. Please note, blood pressure measurements depend on the position of the wrist relative to the heart.

  • Start the measurement. Stay relaxed without speaking or moving during inflation and deflation, and without making a fist. A movement can disturb the measurement.

Repeat the procedure two to three times in succession at one minute intervals without removing the monitoring. Communicate the figures to your pharmacist and doctor.

When to measure your blood pressure?

Measurements must be made at regular times:

  • In the morning, before breakfast, before taking your medication.

  • In the evening, before going to bed.

Measurements are taken for a minimum of three days. Your doctor will be able to specify the frequency adapted to your personal situation. In general, the measurement campaign is carried out a few days before the consultation with the doctor.

Please note, an electronic blood pressure monitoring may not be suitable in the following cases:

  • If your arm is big or very muscular.

  • If you have arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)

  • For children, standards are not defined for this measurement technique.

What do the measured figures mean?

The measurement that you take with your blood pressure monitoring corresponds to the pressure of the blood circulating in the arteries. It varies under the influence of the heartbeat. This pressure is maximum when the heart contracts (systolic blood pressure). It is then minimal when the heart relaxes (diastolic blood pressure).

This pressure is expressed in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) by first indicating the systolic blood pressure followed by the diastolic blood pressure. Ex: 130/80 mmHg.

What is normal blood pressure?

Experts have defined the following standards:

  • At your doctor's office, blood pressure is considered normal when it is below 140/90 mmHg.

  • At health home, with your electronic blood pressure monitoring, it is a little lower. It should be less than 135/85 mmHg.

However, only your doctor can tell you precisely whether your blood pressure is right or not.