What do you check pressure with?
A doctor or nurse can listen to your blood pressure by placing a stethoscope on your artery and pumping up a cuff placed around your arm. The blood pressure is read on a special meter called a sphygmomanometer.
Should you be sitting when checking blood pressure?
Sit quietly before and during monitoring. When you’re ready to take your blood pressure, sit for five minutes in a comfortable position with your legs and ankles uncrossed and your back supported against a chair.
What are the 2 aspects of checking blood pressure?
A blood pressure measurement has two numbers: The top number (systolic) is the pressure of the blood flow when your heart muscle contracts, pumping blood. The bottom number (diastolic) is the pressure measured between heartbeats.
Why does my doctor want to check my blood pressure?
Besides routine monitoring for known or suspected high blood pressure, there are other reasons why your doctor may recommend home blood pressure checks. For instance, he may want to check the effectiveness of a current medication or a new low-salt diet change . 2
How do you check your blood pressure at home?
Wait one minute before repeating the measurement. Start by reapplying the cuff. A. Hold the machine in your right hand. B. Press the power button. All display symbols should appear briefly, followed by a zero. This indicates that the monitor is ready.
How often should you check your blood pressure?
Once you establish a routine of checking your blood pressure and have gained a better understanding of the numbers, you can begin checking it once or twice a day, at the same time each day. If it has already been determined that you have high blood pressure, it is important to measure your blood pressure at roughly the same times each day.
What can change the reading on a blood pressure test?
How you prepare for the test, the position of your arm, and other factors can change a blood pressure reading by 10% or more. That could be enough to hide high blood pressure, start you on a drug you don’t really need, or lead your doctor to incorrectly adjust your medications.
Besides routine monitoring for known or suspected high blood pressure, there are other reasons why your doctor may recommend home blood pressure checks. For instance, he may want to check the effectiveness of a current medication or a new low-salt diet change . 2
How to ensure accurate blood pressure monitoring at home?
To help ensure accurate blood pressure monitoring at home: Check your device’s accuracy. Measure your blood pressure twice daily. Don’t measure your blood pressure right after you wake up. Avoid food, caffeine, tobacco and alcohol for 30 minutes before taking a measurement. Sit quietly before and during monitoring.
How you prepare for the test, the position of your arm, and other factors can change a blood pressure reading by 10% or more. That could be enough to hide high blood pressure, start you on a drug you don’t really need, or lead your doctor to incorrectly adjust your medications.
When to take your blood pressure and how often to check it?
Follow your doctor’s instructions for when and how often to check your blood pressure. Keep in mind that certain factors can cause blood pressure to temporarily rise. Blood pressure normally rises as a result of: Avoid any of these factors that you can when taking your blood pressure.