How to Screen for Hypertension

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a risk factor for future heart disease. Although not every person with hypertension will develop heart troubles, those with hypertension are at greater risk. Hypertension can be treated with lifestyle changes and/or medication, so doctors often screen patients for hypertension during office visits. You can also screen yourself for hypertension at home using an over-the-counter digital blood pressure cuff. Note that if you believe you have or are at risk for hypertension that you should always discuss the matter with your doctor.

Things You'll Need

• Digital blood pressure cuff
• Notepad

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Instructions

• 1

  Sit in a quiet place where you won't be distracted. Breathe normally, and keep both feet resting on the floor. Maintain this position for five minutes before proceeding.

• 2

  Put your left forearm on a table or other flat surface in front of you with the palm of your left hand facing toward the ceiling. If you are wearing a long-sleeved shirt, roll up the sleeve to several inches above your elbow. Ideally the sleeve should not be between your skin and the blood pressure cuff.

• 3

  Place the blood pressure cuff on your upper left arm, following the package instructions to ensure that the cuff is correctly placed. The cuff should not be squeezing your arm uncomfortably, but it should be firmly fastened so it doesn't fall out of place.

• 4

  Inflate the blood pressure cuff by pushing the "Start" button on the blood pressure monitor. You may need to set an automatic inflation limit. If so, 170 is a good setting to start with if you don't already have an idea of your blood pressure. If there is no inflation setting, inflate the cuff until the meter reads 160 or 170 mm Hg.

• 5

  Release the "Start" button and watch the meter. The number on the screen should begin slowly decreasing until the reading is complete, at which point the cuff will automatically deflate.

• 6

  Check the screen and record the results in your notebook. Include the date and time you took the reading, as well as your pulse if the blood pressure monitor measured it. The larger number is your systolic blood pressure,which is the pressure of your blood against blood vessel walls during a heartbeat; and the smaller number is your diastolic pressure, or the pressure in your blood vessels between heartbeats.

• 7

  Repeat this process each day for a week. If you consistently have blood pressure readings over 140 systolic or over 90 diastolic, or both, speak to a physician. This may indicate that you have hypertension.