Tracking Your Blood Pressure

Taking your blood pressure at home can help you and your doctor

Taking your blood pressure at home helps you see your progress. Share these readings with your doctor—to give him or her a clearer picture of how you’re doing. Your doctor can recommend a reliable home blood pressure device and teach you how to use it.

The American Heart Association recommends home blood pressure checks for all people with high blood pressure.

Check your blood pressure often

Your blood pressure varies throughout the day. It can be affected by:

The time of day
Your activity level
Your emotions
Where you are

In fact, people can have higher blood pressure readings at their doctor’s office. That’s why it’s a good idea to take your blood pressure between doctor visits, on a regular basis—or more often if your doctor suggests. Then you and your doctor may more clearly see what your numbers are over time.

Keep track of your results with this blood pressure tracker

Every time your blood pressure is checked, record the results in this tracker. Be sure you write down the top number (systolic) and bottom number (diastolic) every time. This way, you can see for yourself if you’re moving in the right direction. Be sure to take your tracker to your doctor visits and share these results with your doctor.

Tips for taking your own blood pressure

Taking your blood pressure under proper conditions is important to get an accurate reading. To get an accurate blood pressure reading, remember:

Don’t drink coffee or smoke cigarettes for at least 30 minutes before measuring your blood pressure
Go to the bathroom before measuring your blood pressure. A full bladder can affect the reading
Before you take a reading, sit quietly for 5 minutes with your back supported and your feet on the ground. Keep your arm resting on a table at the level of your heart
Get 2 readings at least 2 minutes apart. Average the results