How to Check Blood Pressure

Checking blood pressure is not something that most of us ever think that we will have to do. Most of us associate having our blood pressure taken with being at the doctor, but a lot of people have to monitor their blood pressure at home. When you take your blood pressure at home you want to make sure that you are doing it correctly so you are sure that the readings that you are logging are accurate. Learning how to check blood pressure is not difficult. It may take a bit of work, but newer monitoring devices have made it simple for most people to get a hang of!

Learning How to Check Blood Pressure

Any time you take your blood pressure you want to sit in a chair or at a desk, putting both feet flat on the floor. Make sure before you do the test that your bladder is empty. Sit and relax for a few moments and then place the cuff around the upper arm so that the cuff is snug but will still allow for you to put one finger under it. Position the hose or marker over the brachial artery, which is just on the inside of the midline of the elbow crease.

If you will be using the auscultatory method, which is using the stethoscope to listen to the heat beat and flow of blood, it will be a bit more difficult than using a digital monitor but practice will make perfect. A lot of people find that using this method derives better results, which is why they continue to test their blood pressure in this way. You should be sure that you have the cuff on the right arm. You’ll place the stethoscope in your ears and with your left hand you’ll place the other end of the stethoscope over the brachial artery at the elbow. You’ll hold the inflation bulb in your right hand and inflate the cuff to about 30mm higher than what you would expect the systolic pressure to be. Stop and then relax your right arm and watch as the pressure drops 10 to 20mm. Open the release valve and watch as the pressure falls about 10 mm every three heartbeats.

The pressure that you first hear as a series of bumps is the systolic pressure and then when you notice the bumps disappear that is the diastolic pressure. Make sure to write down both numbers immediately when you are monitoring your own blood pressure, otherwise you will forget and you won’t get an accurate picture of what is going on with your body.

If all of that sounds too difficult for you, don’t worry about it! Today, most people are choosing to use the digital monitoring devices. The reason for this is that it is so much easier, especially when you are checking your own blood pressure. Once the cuff is on, relax your arm, being sure not to move it, and then press the start button. Within a few moments time the cuff will contract and then relax again and you will be given your blood pressure and likely your heart rate, as well. It’s that simple, you’ve now tested your blood sugar and you should log it immediately so you don’t forget!