Maybe you were just diagnosed with Hypertension (aka High Blood Pressure), or you’ve had it for years and your doctor now wants you to start monitoring your blood pressure at home. Show This can be a little overwhelming for many people, and it can bring up lots of questions, like will it be as accurate as when they take my BP at the doctor’s office? And how do I make sure I get a good reading? But have no fear! With a little bit of background information and some practice, you’ll become a pro in no time. Will my reading be as accurate as at the doctor’s office? Many home blood pressure monitors are just as accurate as the doctor’s office. In fact, many doctors have started using automated BP devices in their offices because they eliminate the human error of manual methods. But before you strap that cuff on, there are a few things to pay attention to first: Use a clinically validated blood pressure monitor This is more than just receiving clearance from the FDA, which is required for all blood pressure monitors sold in the US. Clinical validation is an independent study that verifies the accuracy of the device using standardized medical protocols, and these studies are then published in peer-reviewed medical journals. You can view our clinical validations here. Use the right size cuff Cuff size matters! If the cuff you use is too small, your blood pressure reading will be artificially high. If your cuff is too large, you may get a lower-than-actual reading. To determine the right cuff size for you, with your arm hanging at the side of your body, measure the circumference of your upper arm at the midpoint between shoulder and elbow. Understand what can impact your measurements While it might seem obvious that if you just went on a run or had an argument, you blood pressure might be a little high. But there are many other factors that can cause variations in your measurements, including the time of day, climate, altitude, and even the season. On top of that, what you eat or drink (think caffeine) or even if you need to use the restroom can shift your measurements from your normal levels. Now that we’ve gotten the background information out of the way, it’s time to get started! That’s all there is to it! If you want to go the extra mile, there are a few more best practices: If you’re taking your blood pressure at home, you’re ahead of the curve. According to the American Heart Association, 46% of adults have hypertension, and monitoring at home has many benefits, like tracking your treatment, cutting your healthcare costs, and more. |