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Monitoring Your Blood Pressure at Home: How and Why

If you have high blood pressure, you need to change your lifestyle and habits to help keep it under control. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can increase your risk of serious conditions, including:

• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Stroke
• Kidney failure

What is high blood pressure?

Blood is carried from your heart to the rest of your body in your arteries. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Your blood pressure reading measures two numbers:

1. “Systolic” pressure — the force in your arteries when your heart beats to pump your blood
2. “Diastolic” pressure — the force in your arteries when your heart rests between beats

Your blood pressure is at its highest when the heart beats and pumps your blood. Your blood pressure falls when the heart is at rest, between beats.

Too much pressure on the artery walls can damage your vital organs. The higher your blood pressure and the longer it goes uncontrolled, the greater the damage.

A blood pressure of 140/90 or higher is considered high blood pressure.

There are many things you can do to help manage high blood pressure, including:

• Manage stress
• Exercise
• Eat healthfully
• Take the medicine prescribed by your doctor
• Quit smoking

You should also perform self-testing. Self-testing can provide details of how your blood pressure is controlled between visits to your doctor. It can help you and your doctor better understand how well your blood pressure medicine is working. You and your doctor should decide when and how often you should check your blood pressure at home.

Types of blood pressure monitors

There are 2 basic types of monitors you can use:

• Aneroid monitor (with a dial gauge that is read by looking at a pointer)
• Digital monitor (displays your reading on a screen and may have an arm cuff that inflates automatically)

Aneroid monitors cost less. They are easier to carry. But they can be hard to use. Digital models are easier to operate. Work with your doctor to choose the one that best suits your needs. Both require proper care and storage. This ensures accurate readings. Make sure the tubing is not twisted when your monitor is stored. Keep it away from heat.

Before you buy a blood pressure monitor, ask your doctor to help you choose the type. You also need to choose the right cuff size. How do you know if the cuff fits? The cuff should:

• Be large enough to reach from the inside of your elbow to just below the armpit
• Completely encircle your arm with a few inches to spare

Do not use a cuff that is too small. This could result in readings that are not correct. Be sure to ask your doctor or nurse for help. He or she can show you how to use the monitor the right way. Also, ask your doctor to check your monitor when you buy it. You want to make sure it takes the correct readings. Then have your monitor checked once a year.

When is the best time to measure?

Your blood pressure may be higher in the morning than later in the day. That's why you need to check it at different points during the day. Try to check it morning and evening. This will help your doctor to see how well your blood pressure medicine is working. Frequent blood pressure readings are often best, especially when:

• You are first diagnosed
• You begin taking blood pressure medicine

It's also a good idea to take and record 2 or 3 readings at once. This helps to ensure accuracy. If you exercise, your blood pressure will likely decrease for some time afterward. For the most accurate reading, take your blood pressure before you exercise.

So what about when your blood pressure comes down to the level your doctor thinks is best for you? Then you may not need to check it more than once per week. Ask your doctor how often you should check your blood pressure once it is under control.

Work with your doctor

The blood pressure readings you take at home will most likely be lower than the readings taken by your doctor. This is because you are probably more relaxed at home than in the doctor’s office. Talk with your doctor about the blood pressure numbers you should be getting at home.

Do you think you might have high blood pressure? Make sure to see your doctor. He or she can offer you ways to keep it under control. Your doctor will suggest the lifestyle changes that suit you best. They might include:

• Achieving a healthy weight
• Exercising
• Getting plenty of rest

Your doctor may also put you on medicine. High blood pressure drugs can help get your blood pressure under control. They can also reduce your risk of more serious conditions.

Has your doctor already put you on medicine? If so, make sure to take it as directed, even if your blood pressure is under control.

No matter what steps you take, ask your doctor if you should check your blood pressure at home. It could help you and your doctor better understand your condition.