During American Heart Month, show yourself a little love by learning the important steps for getting an accurate blood pressure check.
“Knowing your blood pressure is important because it’s an indicator for many silent diseases,” said Talha Ahmed, MD, an interventional cardiologist with UT Physicians Center for Advanced Heart Failure — Southeast and UT Physicians Heart & Vascular — Pearland. “An accurate reading is vital to determine whether you need to be on lifesaving medication.”
1. Use a bicep cuff.
If you’re checking your blood pressure at home, be sure to invest in a blood pressure cuff that goes on your upper arm and not your wrist.
“If you wear a bicep cuff, it compresses your brachial artery, which will provide a more reliable reading than a wrist cuff, which uses smaller arteries,” said Ahmed, an assistant professor with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.
2. Empty your bladder.
Holding your bladder puts strain on your body, which could increase your blood pressure. Be sure to use the restroom before a blood pressure reading.
3. Avoid caffeine and remain calm.
Smoking, caffeine, exercise, and stress can artificially inflate your blood pressure. Refrain from doing these things for at least 30 minutes before you take your blood pressure. Find a quiet environment where you feel comfortable and calm. Don’t talk.
4. Sit and rest.
Sit with your legs uncrossed and feet flat on the ground. Support your arm on a table so that it’s resting at the same level as your heart.
“If you’re crossing your legs, straining your back, or if your arm is hanging down, all these could falsely elevate the reading,” said Ahmed.
5. Wear short sleeves.
Make sure the cuff is in direct contact with your skin. Even a thin T-shirt between the arm and the cuff can raise the blood pressure reading.
“Clothing could make it harder for the cuff to put pressure on your artery and can produce a false reading,” said Ahmed.
6. Maintain consistency.
Always check your blood pressure on the same arm, once in the morning and again in the evening.
“There are some natural differences between the blood pressure in each arm,” said Ahmed. “Pick an arm and keep it consistent so you can accurately track blood pressure readings day after day.”
If you are tracking your blood pressure at home, check it around the same time every morning and night.
At-home blood pressure cuff
If you’re looking to purchase a blood pressure cuff, the American Medical Association offers this list of validated cuffs.
To check your blood pressure cuff’s accuracy, Ahmed recommends bringing it to an appointment with your primary care physician, who can compare it with the clinic cuff.
