How to Measure Your Blood Pressure Correctly at Home
Sit quietly for five minutes, keep your arm at heart level, take two readings a minute apart. A simple routine gives far better data than one clinic reading.
Treatment decisions in hypertension depend on reliable numbers. Home readings taken correctly are more predictive of long-term risk than a single clinic measurement taken after climbing the stairs.
Before you measure
- No tea, coffee, smoking or exercise for 30 minutes
- Empty your bladder first
- Sit quietly for five minutes with your back supported
- Keep both feet flat on the floor; do not cross your legs
The correct technique
Use a validated upper-arm digital monitor — wrist devices are less reliable. Place the cuff on bare skin, one finger-width above the elbow crease, and rest the arm on a table so the cuff sits level with your heart.
Take two readings one minute apart and record both. Do not talk during the measurement.
When and what to record
- Morning before medication and evening before dinner
- For seven consecutive days before a review appointment
- Note the date, time, both numbers and the pulse
- Ignore an isolated high reading; look at the weekly pattern
Numbers that need attention
A consistent home average above 135/85 mmHg is considered raised. A single reading above 180/120 mmHg with chest pain, breathlessness, severe headache or weakness needs emergency assessment, not a repeat measurement at home.
Key takeaways
- Rest five minutes, arm at heart level, two readings a minute apart
- Upper-arm validated monitors beat wrist devices
- Home average above 135/85 mmHg is raised
- Bring seven days of readings to your review
This article is general health information and does not replace a consultation. Treatment decisions depend on your history, examination and reports. For medical emergencies, visit the nearest emergency department.
