If you have heart failure, it is a good idea to learn how to take your blood pressure at home.
There are a number of devices commercially available for home blood pressure assessment. Many have digital readouts and don't require the use of a stethoscope. The digital blood pressure devices offer ease of use and the ability to take your own blood pressure quickly and accurately without assistance. After calculating the pulse, the digital blood pressure device will display the systolic and diastolic pressures. The stethoscope technique is still considered by many professionals to be the most accurate.
Tips for Obtaining an Accurate Blood Pressure- Remain seated or supine with the arm supported at heart level.
- No smoking or caffeine for 30 minutes prior to measurement.
- Rest for 5 minutes before taking your blood pressure.
- The cuff bladder must almost encircle the arm; apply cuff 1/2 inch above elbow crease; larger people may require a larger cuff to be sure readings are accurate; cuff is usually marked to indicate acceptable size range.
- Locate brachial pulse and place stethoscope bell at this location.
- With the valve closed, pump up cuff bulb to approximately 210 mm Hg, or a point where no sounds are heard through the stethoscope; opening the valve slowly (2-3 mm Hg per second), listen for the point where the (tapping) sounds appear, this will be the systolic pressure; the diastolic pressure in adults is where the sounds disappear.
- Perform two or more readings per session, separated by 5 or more minutes.
- Perform additional readings if initial readings are more than 5 mm Hg different (systolic or diastolic).
- Perform one reading after standing for 2-3 minutes.
- The mean blood pressure is determined during at least 3 separate sessions to diagnose mild hypertension.
Systolic Pressure Guideline for Adults | Systolic Blood Pressure | Assessment |
| 120-139 | Prehypertension |
| Over 140-159 | Systolic hypertension Stage I |
| 160 or higher | Systolic hypertension Stage II |
Diastolic Pressure Guideline for Adults | Diastolic Blood Pressure | Assessment |
| Below 80 | Normal |
| 80-89 | Prehypertension |
| 90-99 | Hypertension Stage I |
| 100 or higher | Hypertension Stage II |
