A Quick Guide to Monitoring Your Blood Pressure at Home

For the millions of people with high blood pressure, periodic blood pressure checks at the doctor's office don't always suffice. Monitoring your blood pressure at home is an integral part of managing high blood pressure/hypertension. This is especially important if your doctor recommends that you check your blood pressure regularly. 

Health organizations such as The American Heart Association (AHA) recommend those with high blood pressure/hypertension to monitor blood pressure more often at home. Your blood pressure is the amount of force present on the walls of your blood vessels as the blood moves through the body. With blood pressure monitors and supplies being readily available, home monitoring has become such an easy step towards improving your health. Self-monitoring, however, isn't a substitute for regular visits to your physician.

Why You Should Monitor Your Blood Pressure at Home:

• Helps Track your Treatment

Home monitoring not only keeps tabs on your blood pressure in a familiar setting but also enables you to ascertain if your medication is working. You doctor can adjust your medication depending on the provided data. 

• Helps with Early Diagnosis

The information you get from tracking your blood pressure levels regularly aids in alerting you and your doctor of potential health complications. It's especially important for individuals with elevated blood pressure or other conditions like diabetes or kidney problems.

• Allows Better Control

Monitoring your BP at home gives you better control over your hypertension and general health. Since hypertension is often symptomless, you won't be aware of your blood pressure unless you check the readings at regular intervals. It's the best way to ensure it isn't creeping up or affected due to stress or changes in diet and lifestyle.

Tips For Checking Your Blood Pressure

It's important for people to know how to monitor blood pressure measurements properly. Inaccurate readings can result in prolonged and untreated high blood pressure. The potential risks of high BP can be serious as it increases the risk of stroke and heart disease, the leading causes of death in the US.

Check your device's accuracy - Have your physician confirm you're using the device correctly and getting the same results as the equipment in the office. It's also important to discuss with your doctor about how they'd like you to monitor and record your blood pressure.

Establish a routine - It's important to take the readings at the same time each day, either morning or evening. This enables you to establish a personalized baseline and notice trends in your numbers.

The real answer to how often you should check your blood pressure will depend on your health history. However, checking in the morning and again before bed is generally the best practice.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

To check your blood pressure, you first need to buy the right equipment. Once you have the device, it's important to know the right technique to accurately take your pressure at home:

• 1. Avoid drinking, smoking or exercising 30 minutes before checking your blood pressure. Don't take your medication before as well. 

• 2. Go to the bathroom and empty your bladder

• 3. Roll up your sleeve and remove any tight-sleeved attire.

• 4. Sit still with your back straight and supported, preferably on a dining chair. Your feet should be flat on the floor, legs uncrossed and your arm should rest comfortably at heart level. Place your forearm on the table with the palm facing up.

• 5. Follow your monitor's instruction manual and place the cuff as directed. Avoid clenching your fist or talking when taking your blood pressure.

• 6. Check the readings and record your systolic pressure (top number) and diastolic pressure (bottom number). It helps to keep a log sheet that documents the dates and times you've taken the readings.

• 7. Wait a minute then measure a second time or third time to make sure the readings are similar and accurate.

• 8. Talk with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns regarding your readings or medication, especially if you get readings that are slightly or moderately higher than normal.

What Does Your Blood Pressure Reading Mean?

Normal blood pressure is considered to be 120/80 or lower. If you fall into this category, keep maintaining your healthy habits and a positive lifestyle. Numbers greater than the ideal range indicate that your heart is working extra hard to pump blood to the rest of the body.

Choosing a Home Blood Pressure Monitor

If you're thinking of monitoring your blood pressure at home, it's important that you choose an accurate device that is right for you. The American Heart Association recommends an automatic, cuff-style, upper-arm monitor as it's easy to use and gives the most accurate and consistent results. Here are some key considerations to factor in your selection:

• Purchase a Monitor with an Upper Cuff

Choose a pressure monitor that checks your blood pressure by placing it on your upper arm. Wrist and finger monitors are least recommended as they yield less reliable numbers. This is considering you need to take the reading with your arm at heart level.

• Get the Right Size

Measure around your upper arm and choose a cuff that is the right size for the person's arm. Fortunately, most arm models come with adjustable cuffs that fits most people. Using an ill-fitting cuff will result in incorrect readings; a cuff that is too small gives falsely high readings while a big cuff gives falsely low readings. 

• Check for Accuracy

Check the packaging to ensure the monitor is independently tested, clinically approved and validated for accuracy and reliability. Remember, your doctor has to check your monitor to ensure it gives correct measurements. Here is a list of validated monitors.

• Ease of Use

An obvious option is a monitor with user-friendly controls and an easy to read display.

• Choose a Monitor That Suits Your Budget

Home BP monitors vary in price depending on the available features including, multiple user memory, data averaging function, computer connections, etc. You may want to shop around for the best deal.

Making the decision to monitor your blood pressure at home is a critical step towards taking control of your health. We offer an extensive range of blood pressure monitors and supplies, which are clinically-validated for home use. You have the power to manage your health and live a long, healthy life.