How to Record Blood Pressure Readings

Knowing your blood pressure is valuable health information. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can lead to cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke. Don't wait till your blood pressure is high to start checking it. Taking a baseline value when you're healthy and recording the values can track your status over time. Whether your blood pressure is low, normal or high, knowing how to track and accurately take blood pressure readings is an important skill to master.

Things You'll Need

• Blood pressure cuff
• Blood pressure monitor
• Recording device

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Instructions

Taking your blood pressure and recording it

• 1

  Select one of the many ways to record blood pressure readings. Regardless of which way you use, having regular, accurate information on your blood pressure is extremely important for those with and without high blood pressure. To keep good notes on your blood pressure, you need to decide on a regular method to record and store your readings over time. This could be pencil and paper, a computer spreadsheet or even a digital blood pressure monitor. Pick one and stick with it.

• 2

  Take your blood pressure at the same time of day, usually twice per day. Situations can elevate your blood pressure significantly like driving to work or during a time of stress. It is important to pick a regular time like after you wake up and/or before you go to bed. Minimize distractions and relax before your readings.

• 3

  To make sure you have accurate readings, wait one minute after sitting down before you take your pressure. This gives your body time to relax from the walking, talking or other distractions that may give an elevated reading.

• 4

  Repeat three times, then average. To best get a true reading, you should take your pressure three times in a row with one minute of rest between each reading. Then throw out the first reading and average the second and third. For example, you will usually see a lower reading with the second and third compared with the first. That is the benefit of having multiple results and averaging. This ensures an accuarate evaluation of your true blood pressure. Regardless, make sure to record all three values for future references and to assess patterns related to your blood pressure.

• 5

  Write your results in the same place every time. Whether you use a notebook, a digital recording device or a some other method, make sure you write the results consistently and use this log to show your physician at your next visit. Your blood pressure readings over time give a much clearer picture of what is going on with your blood pressure than does the once-per-visit reading.