How (and why) to check your blood pressure at home

Written by:

Janet Hosey

When our blood pressure — the force of the blood pushing against artery walls as it’s pumped through the body — gets too high, it can start a chain reaction of health problems.

Over time, high blood pressure can damage arteries, lead to plaque building up inside arteries, and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

High blood pressure can be caused by a variety of things, including:

Factors we can’t control, like genetics, age, gender and ethnicity
Health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, kidney disease and thyroid disease
Lifestyle choices like smoking, drug or alcohol consumption, chronic stress and lack of exercise

Because high blood pressure has no symptoms, it’s essential to check it regularly. It’s also important to note that checking your blood pressure isn’t a one-and-done situation.

“Blood pressure doesn’t stay the same day to day, even hour to hour. It changes when we exercise, sleep, are under stress or have a cup of coffee,” said Thomas Bleasdale, MD, an internal medicine physician with Endeavor Health. “The best way to get a read on your blood pressure is to measure it over time.”

Since it isn’t feasible to go to your primary care doctor’s office every day to have a nurse check your blood pressure, physicians sometimes ask patients to monitor it at home.

Choosing a home monitor

There are plenty of good, reliable options for home blood pressure cuffs,” Dr. Bleasdale said. “Ask your physician for recommendations.

A helpful feature on many home blood pressure cuffs is a Bluetooth connection so the readings can be recorded on a smartphone app.

Your physician can also help recommend the proper size for your arm, as a cuff that’s too loose or too tight will not provide accurate readings.

Good home blood pressure monitors can range in price from about $50 to $100 and are typically reimbursable with Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) funds.

How to check your blood pressure at home

Checking your blood pressure at home is pretty foolproof, but there are some steps to remember to ensure an accurate reading. Follow these steps:

Check your blood pressure during a relaxed, quiet time of day. Most experts recommend checking it at the same time in the morning and again in the evening.
Do not smoke, drink caffeine or exercise for 30 minutes before checking your blood pressure.
Empty your bladder before taking the reading.
Sit quietly and rest for about five minutes without talking or doing other tasks before taking the reading.
Make sure you’re sitting in a chair with a straight, supported back (like a dining chair, not a couch) with both feet uncrossed and flat on the floor before you begin.
Place the cuff on either upper arm with the middle of the cuff at heart level. Do not put the cuff over clothing.
Rest your cuffed arm on a flat surface before checking your blood pressure. Take 2-3 readings at each check.
Record every result and share them with your doctor.

Tracking your blood pressure is an important step in keeping it under control, as uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to health issues like heart disease and stroke.

Home monitoring can help detect high blood pressure earlier, and is especially important for people with diabetes or kidney problems. It can also help you check if your blood pressure differs outside a medical office. Ask your physician whether you should monitor your blood pressure at home.

Choosing a home monitor

How to check your blood pressure at home

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