Hypertension (high blood pressure) affects over one million adults in the U.S. alone. When your blood pressure is elevated, it can greatly increase the risk of developing other health problems like heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.  

Blood pressure measures the force of blood flow through arteries carrying blood throughout the body. The force from the heart beating pumps blood through the arteries, which causes the arteries to repeatedly expand and contract, like a balloon being squeezed and released. 

For most people, learning that you have high blood pressure means making diet and lifestyle changes, and potentially starting medication. However, did you know that where and how your blood pressure is measured can make a big difference? 

How to Read Your Blood Pressure Measurements 

Your blood pressure is given in two numbers: 

• Systolic blood pressure: This is the first number listed on your BP reading and measures the pressure that your blood exerts against the walls of your arteries. A normal systolic reading should be less than 120 mm Hg. 

• Diastolic blood pressure: This is the second number listed in your BP reading, which measures the force of the blood against your artery walls when your heart is resting between beats. A normal diastolic reading is less than 80 mm Hg. 

• Pulse: The pulse refers to the number of beats per minute your heart is beating. A normal adult pulse rate is between 60 to 100 beats per minute. 

The top number (systolic blood pressure) is the higher of the two. When checking your blood pressure, your doctor will typically read out a vital sign that’s in the normal range of 120/80 mmHg or below. Anything above that could be a sign of an underlying health condition.  

Image source: American Heart Association 

How to Measure Your Blood Pressure at Home 

Every individual is different, and it’s important to understand that the measurement on a single device in your doctor’s office won’t necessarily be the same as at-home readings. There is a tendency for blood pressure results to vary between doctor’s visits and at-home readings due to, testing procedures, precautionary steps, or the effect your environment plays on your blood pressure.  

Blood pressure readings give you an idea of how hard your heart is working and can indicate if it’s working efficiently enough to deliver blood to all the vital organs—including the brain, kidneys, and throughout the body. 

If you’re at home taking a measurement of your blood pressure yourself, it’s important to keep in mind that this can often cause inaccurate results if you don’t follow the necessary steps. To get a more precise reading at home, you should follow a schedule and take your blood pressure at the same time(s) each day.  

For the most accurate results, follow these guidelines: 

Things to do Before Taking Blood Pressure: 

• Avoid exercise, caffeine, and tobacco products for at least 30 minutes before measuring. 

• Remain sitting upright with your back against the back of a chair. 

• Avoid crossing your legs or ankles. Keep your feet flat across the floor before and during the measurement process. 

• Remove any tight-fitting clothing that could constrict your blood flow, particularly around the neck and hand area. The cuff should be placed on bare skin and not over clothing. 

• Rest your arm on the table with your palm facing upward, toward the ceiling. 

• Place the blood pressure cuff on the upper arm, above your elbow. Keep your arm relaxed on the table, with the cuff at heart level. 

• Rest in this position for a few minutes before starting the blood pressure machine. This ensures your body is relaxed and will help give a more accurate BP reading. 

What to do During Blood Pressure Reading: 

• Hit the “start” button on your device and remain still during the entire reading process. The cuff will tighten and release. Once the device releases fully and displays your blood pressure and pulse—your measurement is complete. 

• It’s important to wait at least 1 minute to repeat the reading a second time. 

• Measure blood pressure in both arms if you’re at all suspicious of an irregular measurement (this is often seen with pulmonary arterial hypertension). 

• Check the numbers for accuracy: While it’s normal to experience fluctuation in blood pressure readings, those who have high and low blood pressure may be at an increased risk of heart disease or stroke. Additionally, if you notice a steady increase in your resting blood pressure over time, this could be a warning sign that you need to seek further medical attention. 

What to do After Your Blood Pressure Reading: 

• Many blood pressure devices will keep an internal record of measurements, but you should also keep track of your BP measurements yourself. 

• Log your results in a journal. Some physicians will give patients a record sheet to fill out that is easily transferable to a computer file. This will allow you and your doctor to effectively track your progress and be able to determine whether treatment measures have been successful or what further steps are needed. 

How to Monitor and Track your Blood Pressure Results 

It’s important to keep an accurate log of your blood pressure results over time. This will help determine the effectiveness of any treatments that your doctor may recommend. 

Here are some steps you should follow to achieve this: 

• App Tracking: With the InBody App and our BP 170, all blood pressure measurements are synched directly to your phone. You can track your blood pressure history and monitor any abnormalities.

  • With historic blood pressure tracking through the app, you can also share with your doctor upon your next visit.

• Journaling:  Record the date and time for each blood pressure, and pulse reading. Be sure to compare your results with previous entries. It’s important to make sure your results aren’t considerably high or low when compared to the results from previous readings.

  • Take note of how you feel before your blood pressure test to become more aware of any possible triggers that could cause a spike in blood pressure. This could include stress, anger, or the consumption of certain medications and foods.  

• Keep your doctor updated: If you keep track of your results and notice a significant shift, it’s important to notify your physician of any stark changes, or issues with your blood pressure readings.

  • Some doctors will have you log your results in an online portal or email/fax your log to the office for review (typically done weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly—depending on the situation). 

• Bring your results to every appointment:  This is the best way to ensure that your doctor has the most up-to-date information on your condition. You should also review your results with any medical professionals you work with directly and inform the person who keeps track of blood pressure readings during regular checkups. 

Conclusion 

Nearly half of U.S. adults either having high blood pressure or are being medicated for it. it is important to be aware of this condition, how and when to test for it, and the steps you can take towards improving your health. Managing hypertension is a lifelong process for many. With adequate record keeping, you can better track your progress and determine which diet, lifestyle, or medication changes can keep your blood pressure under control. 

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Lindsay Modglin is a nurse, writer, and digital marketing expert for the healthcare industry. As a passionate advocate for science-backed content, she loves to help others create captivating material that supports scientific research and education.