Hypertension/High Blood Pressure Health Center

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Heart Failure: Monitoring Your Blood Pressure

When Should I Check My Blood Pressure?

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:

Stress
Smoking
Cold temperatures
Exercise
Caffeine
Certain medicines

Avoid any of these factors that you can when taking your blood pressure. Also try measuring your blood pressure at about the same time each day.

How Do I Take My Blood Pressure?

Before taking your blood pressure:

Find a quiet place. (You will need to listen for your heartbeat.)
Roll up the sleeve on your left arm or remove any tight-sleeved clothing, if needed. (It's best to take your blood pressure from your left arm, if possible.)
Rest in a chair next to a table for 5-10 minutes. (Your left arm should rest comfortably at heart level.)
Sit up straight with your back against the chair, legs uncrossed.
Rest your forearm on the table with the palm of your hand facing up.

Taking your blood pressure

If you purchase a manual or digital blood pressure monitor, follow the instruction booklet carefully. The following steps provide an overview of how to take your blood pressure using either a manual or digital blood pressure monitor.

1. Locate your pulse -

Locate your pulse by lightly pressing your index and middle fingers slightly to the inside center of the bend of your elbow. Here you can feel the pulse of the brachial artery. If you cannot locate your pulse, place the head of the stethoscope (on a manual monitor) or the arm cuff (on a digital monitor) in the same general area.

2. Secure the cuff -

A. Thread the cuff end through the metal loop and slide the cuff onto your arm, making sure that the stethoscope head is over the artery. (When using a manual monitor, the cuff may be marked with an arrow to show the location of the stethoscope head.) The lower edge of the cuff should be about 1 inch above the bend of your elbow. Use the Velcro wrap to make the cuff snug, but not too tight.

B. Place the stethoscope in your ears. Tilt the earpiece slightly forward to get the best sound.

3. Inflate and deflate the cuff -

If you are using a manual monitor:

A. Hold the pressure gauge in your left hand and the bulb in your right.

B. Close the airflow valve on the bulb by turning the screw clockwise.

C. Inflate the cuff by squeezing the bulb with your right hand. You may hear your pulse in the stethoscope.

D. Watch the gauge. Keep inflating the cuff until the gauge reads about 30 points (mm Hg) above your expected systolic pressure. At this point, you should not hear your pulse in the stethoscope.

E. Keeping your eyes on the gauge, slowly release the pressure in the cuff by opening the airflow valve counter clockwise. The gauge should fall only 2 to 3 points with each heartbeat. (You may need to practice turning the valve slowly.)

F. Listen carefully for the first pulse beat. As soon as you hear it, note the reading on the gauge. This reading is your systolic pressure.

G. Continue to slowly deflate the cuff.

H. Listen carefully until the sound disappears. As soon as you can no longer hear your pulse beat, note the reading on the gauge. This reading is your diastolic pressure.

I. Allow the cuff to completely deflate.

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WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic