How to Test Your Blood Pressure Using a Cuff

Blood pressure cuffs come in two styles, manual and electronic. Manual cuffs are the type most often found in doctor's offices and require the use of a stethoscope to get an accurate reading. These cuffs are difficult for a lay person to use on himself and may result in a false read. Electronic cuffs are much easier to use and take a lot of the guesswork out of blood pressure reading.

Things You'll Need

• Electronic blood pressure monitor with arm cuff
• Straight-backed chair
• Table

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Instructions

• 1

  Wear short sleeves or a sleeveless shirt. Rolled sleeves can compress the blood vessels and alter the reading.

• 2

  Sit quietly at least three minutes before taking your reading. Avoid smoking or consuming alcohol at least 30 minutes before the test. Smoking, alcohol and recent physical activity can all affect blood pressure readings.

• 3

  Sit at a table, in a straight-backed chair, with your feet flat on the floor. Rest your left arm on the table, at heart level.

• 4

  Wrap the cuff around your left arm so that the bottom of the cuff sits one inch above the crook in your elbow. The cuff should be snug but not tight. A home monitor should have an arrow on the cuff; that arrow should sit over the artery in your arm. The artery is located slightly right of center.

• 5

  Set the monitor to inflate between 150 and 200 mm Hg. Some automatic cuffs do not have settings, in which case let it inflate normally. Press the start button on the monitor, sit back and relax, with your arm resting on the table.

• 6

  Let the monitor inflate, then deflate, as it takes your reading. At the end of the reading, your blood pressure will display on the digital screen.