If you do decide to measure your blood pressure at home, you will need to get a home blood pressure monitor. There is a wide range of home blood pressure monitors available, but it is important to be sure that the monitor you choose is the right one for you.
Choose the right blood pressure monitor for you
There are many different kinds of home blood pressure monitor, but it is easiest to use a monitor that is fully automatic. Choose one that measures your blood pressure at your upper arm, rather than at your wrist or finger. Upper-arm blood pressure monitors usually give the most accurate and consistent results.
Make sure your monitor is accurate
Make sure that the home blood pressure monitor you choose has been “clinically validated” for accuracy by the British Hypertension Society. This means that the digital monitor has gone through a series of tests to make sure it gives results that you and your doctor can trust.
Please fill in the form at the end of this page for a list of clinically-validated home blood pressure monitors.
Make sure you have the right cuff size
An upper-arm blood pressure monitor will come with a cuff that you need to wrap around your arm. If you use a cuff that is the wrong size for you, your blood pressure reading will not be correct. Measure around your upper arm at the midpoint between your shoulder and elbow, and choose your cuff size from the chart below.
| Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor cuff sizes | ||
| Measurement (cm) | Measurement (inches) | Cuff size |
18-22 cm | 7.1-8.7” | Small |
22-32 cm | 8.8-12.8” | Medium |
32-45 cm | 12.8-18” | Large |
Most home blood pressure monitors will come with a medium-sized cuff. You may have to order a different-sized cuff separately.
Choose an automatic monitor to suit your budget
Blood pressure monitors can vary in price. This usually depends on the number of extra features that the digital monitor has, like a built-in memory for example.
All you need to measure your blood pressure correctly is a clinically validated monitor, and a pen and paper to record your readings. Extra features can be helpful but they are not necessary. Choose a home blood pressure monitor that you can afford.
Keep your home blood pressure monitor calibrated
Because your blood pressure monitor works automatically, it will need to be re-calibrated at least once every two years to be sure it is giving you accurate results. To have your automatic home monitor re-calibrated, you will need to send it back to the manufacturer. There will probably be a fee for this service.
Your doctor or nurse may want to measure your blood pressure regularly by using a home blood pressure monitor. This is to make sure that your medicines or lifestyle changes are helping to bring your blood pressure down.
Also, you may want to measure your blood pressure yourself at home for your own records. This can be very useful, for a number of reasons:
- It can give a picture of what your blood pressure is like as you go about your daily life
- You can see if your blood pressure is higher in the clinic than it is at home
- You can see how well your medicines and lifestyle changes are working for you
Many people find that using a home blood pressure monitor to track their blood pressure helps them feel more in control of their condition. Home monitoring can also give your doctor or nurse a more complete picture of what your blood pressure is like from day to day.
Measuring your blood pressure with a home blood pressure monitor can be very useful, but it is not for everyone. Some people become more anxious when they start measuring at home and end up taking readings far too often.
Before you decide to try monitoring your blood pressure at home, ask yourself: will using a home blood pressure monitor make me feel more relaxed or more worried?
How to use a blood pressure monitor
Simple steps to an accurate reading
There are a few simple steps that you can follow to be sure that you get an accurate reading of your blood pressure.
Before you take your blood pressure reading
1. Many things can make your blood pressure rise for a short time. Make sure you do not need to use the toilet, and that you have not just eaten a big meal. Do not measure your blood pressure within 30 minutes of drinking caffeine or smoking.
2. Wear loose-fitting clothes like a short sleeved t-shirt so that you can push your sleeve up comfortably.
3. Always use the same arm for blood pressure readings, as each arm will give you a slightly different reading. If possible, use the arm that your doctor or nurse uses when measuring your blood pressure.
4. Before you take your readings, rest for five minutes. You should be sitting down in a quiet place, preferably at a desk or table, with your arm resting on a firm surface and your feet flat on the floor.
5. Make sure your arm is supported and that the cuff around your arm is at the same level as your heart. You may need to support your arm with a cushion to be sure it is at the correct height. Your arm should be relaxed, not tensed.
How to take your own readings at home using a digital home monitor
1. Put the cuff on following the instructions that came with your monitor.
2. Make sure you are relaxed and comfortable. If you are anxious or uncomfortable, this will make your blood pressure rise temporarily.
3. When you are taking your reading, keep still and silent. Moving and talking can affect your reading.
4. Take two or three readings, each about two minutes apart, and then work out the average. Some people find that their first reading is much higher than the next readings. If this is true for you, keep taking readings until they level out and stop falling, then use this as your reading.
5. Record your reading, either in the memory of your monitor or on computer or paper.
Things to do when taking blood pressure readings
- Do not round your measurements up or down – if you don’t keep accurate records of your blood pressure it may affect the treatment you receive.
- Do not be alarmed if you get an unexpected high reading – a one-off reading may be nothing to worry about. Measure your blood pressure again at another time, but if you find that it continues to be high after a period of time, see your doctor or nurse.
- Do not check your blood pressure too often – you may become worried or stressed about small changes in your reading. This can raise your blood pressure in the short-term. Worrying about your blood-pressure reading may actually make it higher.
