Checking your Blood Pressure At Home

You don't always have to go to your doctor's office to have your blood pressure check ed; you can monitor your own blood pressure at home . It is particularly important to monitor your blood pressure regularly if you are recommended by your doctor.

How to Check Your Blood Pressure. There are a few factors that may temporarily cause your blood pressure rise. The following factors can cause blood pressure to temporarily rise:

Avoid stress Smoking Exercise Caffeine and Cold Temperatures Your blood pressure should be measured at approximately the same time every day. You may be asked by your doctor to monitor blood pressure throughout the day in order to determine if it changes.

You must first check your blood pressure. Find somewhere quiet to do this. Your heartbeat will be recorded. It is important to have a fully empty bladder. This will allow you to feel comfortable. You can roll up your sleeves and take off tight-sleeved garments. For 5-10 minutes, sit down next to the table. The arm of the chair should be at your chest. With your legs straight, sit up straight and place your head against the back of the chair. Your forearm should be resting on the table. The palm of your right hand should face up. Follow the Step-by-Step Guide to Check Your Blood Pressure.

Here are the steps to determine your left-arm blood pressure with a digital, or manual monitor. You can simply flip the sides and take your blood pressure in right arm.

You can locate your pulse by gently pressing down on your middle and index fingers towards the inner center of your elbow (where is the brachialartery). Place the stethoscope's head on a manual monitor or the arm bracelet (on digital monitors) within the same vicinity.

If you are using a manual monitor, slide the cuff on your arm. Make sure the head of the stethoscope is above the artery. To indicate where the stethoscope head is located, the cuff could be marked with an "arrow". Your elbow should extend about 12 inch below the lower edge of the wrist cuff. You can tighten your cuff with the fabric fastener, but don't make it too tight.

Put the stethoscope into your ears. To get the best sound, tilt the earpieces slightly in the forward direction.

The pressure gauge should be held in the left hand, and the bulb in the right. Turn the screw counterclockwise to close the bulb's airflow valve. You can inflate the cuff with your right-hand by pressing down on the bulb. The stethoscope may detect your pulse. Pay attention to the gauge. The gauge should read about 30 points (30 mm Hg) more than the expected systolic Pressure. You should no longer hear your pulse through the stethoscope at this stage. Keep your eye on the gauge and slowly let go of the pressure by turning the airflow valve clockwise. With each heartbeat, the gauge should drop between 2-3 points. You may have to take some practice with turning the valve slowly. Pay attention to the pulsebeat. Once you have heard it, take note of the reading on your gauge. The reading on the gauge is the systolic (force of blood against the walls) as your heart beats. Keep slowly releasing the cuff. Keep listening until you hear a distinct sound. When you no longer can hear your pulse, notice the reading of the gauge. The reading on the gauge is your diastolic (blood pressure measured between each heartbeat). Let the cuff completely inflate.

If your arm is straight, you will get the best reading.

Do not inflate your cuff again if you release the pressure quickly, or if it is difficult to hear your pulse. You should wait for one minute before you repeat the measurement. Reapply the cuff.

Keep the bulb in your left hand. Hold the bulb in your right hand and press the power button. After all display symbols, a number should be followed by a short zero. The monitor will be ready when this happens. You can inflate it by pressing down on the bulb using your right hand. Press the button to inflate your monitor's cuff automatically. Keep an eye on the gauge. Inflate the cuff continuously until it reads approximately 30 points (mmHg) higher than your normal systolic pressure. Watch the monitor from a quiet place. On the monitor, pressure readings will appear. On some devices, the values might appear to the left and then the right. Give it a while. It means the measurement is done. Take note of the displayed pressures. The display screen shows the Systolic Pressure (the pressure of blood against the walls when your heart beats), on the left, and the Diastolic Pressure (the pressure between heartbeats), on the right. You may see your pulse rate in the middle or at the end of this reading. The cuff should be allowed to inflate. Don't inflate it again if the reading is not accurate. Take a moment to repeat the measurement. Reapply the cuff.

Following your doctor's advice on how and when to take your blood pressure, you can follow them. Keep track of the time, date, and systolic as well as diastolic, systolic, and diastolic blood pressures. Also, note any unusual circumstances, such as recent exercises, meals, or stressful events.

Your blood pressure monitor should be checked at least once every year. This is especially important after your first purchase. The doctor will compare your blood pressure reading with the one taken from his office.