Should the First Blood Pressure Reading Be Discarded?

How to measure out your blood pressure at home.

Welcome to our abode monitoring resources hub.

Here you tin find resources for dwelling house monitoring, see our uncomplicated steps to become an accurate reading and make the most out of home monitoring.

Plus, read more about why habitation monitoring can be helpful and how to choose a monitor.

The offset step to managing your blood pressure level is to Know Your Numbers! Watch our video to come across how to measure your blood pressure at home and utilize our tips and resources below to check your own blood pressure at home.

Dwelling blood pressure monitoring resources

Download our Checking your claret pressure level at home [PDF 113KB] affiche and our Guidelines for dwelling blood pressure testing [PDF 44KB] to impress and keep at home every bit a guide.

Yous can also download our 'Measuring your claret pressure level at home' leaflet at the cease of the folio. This A5 booklet provides articulate instructions on how to measure blood pressure at home. It covers how to choose an accurate monitor, how to utilise the machine correctly at dwelling house and when to measure out.

Earlier you measure your claret pressure

• Avert things that tin can heighten your claret force per unit area in the curt term. Don't measure your blood pressure within one-half an hour of eating, smoking, drinking caffeinated drinks such as coffee, or exercising. These can all raise your blood pressure temporarily. If you need to use the toilet, get before you lot measure your blood pressure.
• Article of clothing loose-fitting wearing apparel. Clothing a brusque-sleeved t-shirt or something with sleeves y'all can push button up hands, aught tight. This is and so that y'all tin can fit the cuff effectually your arm.
• Rest for five minutes before you have your reading. Sit downwards somewhere serenity, ideally at a desk or table. Have your back supported with your arm resting on a firm surface and your feet flat on the flooring. Stay in this position while you have your blood pressure.
• Make sure your arm is supported and at the aforementioned level as your centre. Position yourself so that your arm is resting on a surface and is at the same height as your heart. Keep your arm and hand relaxed, not tensed.
• Make certain you are relaxed and comfortable. If y'all are anxious or uncomfortable, your blood force per unit area volition rise temporarily.

How to measure your blood pressure at abode using a home monitor

1. Follow the instructions that came with your monitor. Brand sure you place the cuff effectually your arm equally described in the instructions.
2. Place the arm gage but to a higher place your elbow. The cuff should be about 2cm above your elbow to make sure it tin detect the avenue in your arm, just nether the skin.
3. Keep still and quiet while you take your reading. Moving, chewing, talking and laughing tin touch your reading. Brand certain you don't cross your legs, every bit this will heighten your reading too.
4. Have two or three readings, each nigh one to two minutes apart. If your first reading is much higher than the adjacent, ignore it and take an extra reading. Once y'all have two to iii readings, you can work out the average.
5. Keep a record of your measurements. Tape all your readings in the retentiveness of your monitor, on your computer or phone or on paper – whichever you prefer. Write them downwards exactly as they announced on screen.

Tips for measuring your blood pressure at home

• Measure your claret pressure in both artillery when y'all first offset. They will give slightly dissimilar readings. From so on, utilize the arm that gave you the higher reading each time.
• Always use the same arm. If possible, use the arm that your physician or nurse uses when they mensurate your claret pressure.
• Take readings at the aforementioned time each day. For example, first thing in the morn or last thing at nighttime. Your claret pressure tin can vary throughout the day and with different activities, so this volition mean y'all're comparison like with like. It'southward adept to have a routine – like measuring your blood pressure before breakfast.
• Don't round your measurements up or down. Record your readings as they're displayed because it could affect the handling you lot're prescribed.
• Don't worry if yous get an unexpected high reading. A 1-off high reading is usually nothing to worry about, rest for five minutes and take the reading again. If it's still loftier, measure your claret pressure once more some other 24-hour interval. If it remains high for long, around ii or three weeks, see your md or nurse.
• Don't worry virtually small changes. It'southward normal for there to exist pocket-sized changes in your blood pressure.
• Don't check your blood pressure too oftentimes. Some people find that they become worried or stressed about small changes in their readings if they have them likewise often. Worrying can besides enhance your claret pressure in the short term, making your reading college than it should be.
• Don't finish taking your medications if your blood force per unit area falls. Always talk to your doctor before stopping your medications, even if your blood pressure has fallen to a healthy level co-ordinate to your home monitor.
• Speak to your doctor or nurse if you're worried. If you have doubts or concerns most your readings or home monitoring, speak to your doctor or nurse, or call out healthcare team on 020 7882 6218. If you think y'all may be having a stroke or center assail call 999 immediately.

How frequently should y'all measure your claret pressure?

When and how often yous take your readings will depend on your claret pressure level. Speak to your doctor or nurse about what's suitable for you.

It can exist useful to monitor your blood pressure closely to begin with, and then less oftentimes only at regular intervals.

When yous kickoff start using your home monitor

When yous commencement commencement using a home monitor, measure your blood pressure in the morning and evening, every mean solar day for a calendar week.

Have 3 readings in the morning time, ane to two minutes autonomously, and the same again in the evening, and record all the readings. Take an average of the readings, but discard the start one if it's much higher than the others. To take an average just add together the 2 readings together and divide by ii. Split up by three if you employ all three readings.

Ignore the first day'due south readings altogether, because they might not be accurate as you're not familiar with your monitor yet.

At the terminate of the week you lot will have a useful picture of what your claret pressure level is ordinarily like.

Your doctor might enquire you to go along a record like this when they showtime recollect you lot might have high claret force per unit area and would like to know more before making a diagnosis.

After the start week

Once y'all have a tape of your blood pressure over a week, you can take readings less oftentimes – once every ane to two weeks mayhap. Your doctor or nurse can talk to yous about this, there's no need to measure out it besides often.

If your claret pressure has been stable for a long fourth dimension, you lot might only demand to measure it once every iv to vi months. Your physician or nurse will exist able to advise you.

At that place might be times when yous desire to measure your blood pressure more oftentimes. For example, if you are given a new medicine or a higher dose of medicine, to see if the change is having an upshot. It's too helpful to record your numbers for four to seven days before a clinic visit and so y'all tin can evidence your medico.

Keeping a record

Keeping a record volition help yous and your physician to see how your blood pressure is responding to treatments and lifestyle changes, and if yous demand a change in your treatment. Take your record forth with you to your appointments.

You tin can record your readings in the memory of your monitor, on your estimator or phone or on newspaper – whichever yous prefer. If you lot share your monitor with someone else go along a tape elsewhere so that your readings don't become dislocated.

Information technology'south helpful to keep a diary of your claret pressure readings. Write downwardly all your readings, fifty-fifty the ones you don't include in the average. Ideally write down the fourth dimension and appointment, and the time you took your blood pressure medications. It's also helpful to note anything that might have affected your blood pressure level, for case changes in treatment, episodes of disease, symptoms you have at the fourth dimension such every bit headaches or feeling dizzy.

You can as well download our handy Eastward-record card [PDF 38KB] below for yous to tape your blood pressure numbers on. Use our blood pressure chart to meet what your numbers mean, and follow our guidelines for home claret pressure testing to meet what activeness y'all should take.

Working with your doctor or nurse

You won't usually make a conclusion almost handling based solely on the readings you have taken at home. But they may find it useful to know what you're blood pressure level is like when you're away from the clinic.

Talk to your md or nurse before you start to measure your blood pressure at abode. They advise you lot on when to measure out your blood pressure and how often, and this can help you lot both to exist clear about what you are doing and why.

Bring your records with y'all to your appointments and so they tin use it to review your treatment.

Make sure your monitor is suitable and you know how to use it

It is a good thought to bring your monitor to the date so that your doctor or nurse can bank check that information technology is validated and accurate, that it fits properly, and that you know how to use it. They can show you lot if y'all're not certain.

Read more

Learn more about your blood pressure, what claret pressure level readings mean, and how to lower your blood pressure.

For further information on home monitoring, download our booklet, Measuring your BP at home [PDF 194KB].

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Source: https://www.bloodpressureuk.org/your-blood-pressure/how-to-lower-your-blood-pressure/monitoring-your-blood-pressure-at-home/how-to-measure-your-blood-pressure-at-home/

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