How to Measure for Size of a Blood Pressure Cuff

Many people with borderline and high blood pressure have to regularly monitor their levels. Physicians recommend that those with blood pressure at abnormal levels when it is tested at the doctor's office should regularly monitor it themselves at home and keep a daily log. This can be done with a blood pressure machine, but the cuffs are in different sizes, and before you or your doctor uses a blood pressure cuff, you need to make sure that it is the right size for your arm. Here is how to measure your arm and determine the size of cuff you need for the most accurate reading.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric tape measure with metric measurements (centimeters)
• Another person
• Pencil and paper
• Blood pressure cuff size reference chart (provided below)

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Instructions

• 1

  Sit in a comfortable position in a chair with your arms on the armrests and relaxed. Your arms will be bent at the elbow, but you should not purposefully flex your muscles.

• 2

  Have the other person wrap the tape measure around the center of your upper arm. The measurement will be done on the arm you use the least. For instance, if you are right handed, measure your left arm.

• 3

  Tell the person taking the measurement to write down the circumference of your arm (distance around). The measurement should be taken in centimeters.

• 4

  Refer to the following numbers for the proper size of blood pressure cuff you need.

  * Arm circumference 22 to 26 cm, 'small adult' cuff, 12 by 22cm
  * Arm circumference 27 to 34 cm, 'adult' cuff: 16 by 30cm
  * Arm circumference 35 to 44 cm, 'large adult' cuff: 16 by 36cm
  * Arm circumference 45 to 52 cm, 'adult thigh' cuff; 16 by 42cm

• 5

  Talk to your doctor about your findings before she takes your blood pressure in the office. This will ensure that your doctor is using the right sized cuff for your size.