How to take and record accurate blood pressure at home
Tracking blood pressure at home provides your doctor with a much more accurate picture of cardiovascular health than a single stressed clinic reading (often distorted by 'white coat syndrome'). Accuracy depends on consistent technique.
Sit quietly in a comfortable chair with your back supported and feet flat on the floor for five full minutes before measuring. Rest your arm on a table so the upper-arm cuff is level with your heart. Avoid caffeine, exercise, and smoking for thirty minutes beforehand.
Take two readings one minute apart in the morning before medication and breakfast, and two readings in the evening. Record the average systolic, diastolic, and pulse on a printed tracking log to review with your GP.