Recommendations for Taking Blood Pressure Readings at Home

Are you trying to measure blood pressure at home?

• a blood pressure device that has been validated as being accurate and reliable?

• an automated device that measures blood pressure in the upper arm?

• a cuff appropriate for the patient?

• a device that automatically records the reading or that provides a printout?

• avoided stimulants (including caffeine or nicotine) for at least 30 minutes prior to the reading?

• sitting upright and relaxed for at least 5 minutes?

• removed any clothing that may constrict the arm?

• being taken at standard times under similar conditions?

• taken with the subject sitting upright and comfortable with the back supported?

• taken with both of the patient's feet flat on the ground?

• using the same arm each time, either the one with the higher blood pressure or the nondominant arm?

• taken with the blood pressure cuff at the level of the heart?

• with the patient breathing quietly and not speaking?

• recorded to the nearest 2 mm Hg?

• repeated 2 or 3 times at each sitting?