The simplest way to measure your blood pressure at home is to use an automated cuff, which you can purchase online or at most drugstores. The American Heart Association recommends this method.

Your blood pressure provides clues about how hard your heart is working to pump blood through your arteries. It’s one of your body’s vital signs.

High blood pressure, known in medical terms as hypertension, can be harmful to your health in many ways. Over time, it can damage your vital organs, including your heart, kidneys, and brain. That’s why it’s important to monitor your blood pressure and take steps to manage it before it causes problems.

One way to keep track of your blood pressure is to monitor it at home using an automated blood pressure machine or by doing it manually. This article will walk you through how to check your blood pressure, along with tips to help ensure accurate readings.

What do numbers in blood pressure readings mean?

Blood pressure measurements contain two different readings:

  • Systolic pressure: This first (or top) number in a reading measures the pressure inside your arteries when your heart is contracting to pump blood.
  • Diastolic pressure: This second (or bottom) number measures the pressure inside your arteries when your heart relaxes between beats.

For example, you may see blood pressure written as 117/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). In that case, the systolic pressure is 117, and the diastolic pressure is 80.

The simplest way to measure your own blood pressure is to purchase an automated cuff. Automated blood pressure machines are easy to use and helpful if you have hearing impairments.

These types of blood pressure cuffs have a digital monitor that displays your blood pressure reading on a screen. You can purchase them online, at most grocery stores, or at a health food store.

The American Heart Association (AHA)Trusted Source recommends an automated upper arm blood pressure monitor for at-home use. To use your digital blood pressure monitor, carefully follow the instructions that come with the monitor. You can also take the monitor to your doctor’s office or local pharmacy for a demonstration.

It may also help to have a notebook to use as a blood pressure log. This can be helpful for your doctor. You can also downloadTrusted Source a free blood pressure log from the AHA.

Even if you check your blood pressure at home, your doctor will still want to check it during appointments.

Recalibrating automated blood pressure monitors

Automated blood pressure machines can give you a different reading than a manual blood pressure reading.

Bring your cuff to your next doctor’s appointment so you can compare the reading from your cuff to the doctor’s reading. This can help you calibrate your machine and identify the blood pressure levels you should look for on your own device.

Automated blood pressure monitors typically require recalibration at least every 2 years. Check your manufacturer’s guidance for more details.

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To manually take your blood pressure, you’ll need:

  • a blood pressure cuff with a squeezable balloon and an aneroid monitor (number dial), also known as a sphygmomanometer
  • a stethoscope

If possible, enlist the help of a friend or family member because this method can be difficult to perform on your own.

A step-by-step guide to checking your blood pressure manually

Here are the steps to taking your blood pressure manually at home:

  1. Before taking your blood pressure, make sure you’re relaxed. Position your arm straight, palm facing up on a level surface, such as a table.
  2. Place the cuff on your bicep and squeeze the balloon to inflate the cuff.
  3. Using the numbers on the aneroid monitor, inflate the cuff about 30 mm HgTrusted Source over your typical systolic blood pressure. If you don’t know your typical values, ask your doctor how much you should inflate the cuff.
  4. Once you’ve inflated the cuff, place the stethoscope with the flat side down on the inside of your elbow crease, toward the inner part of your arm where the major artery of your arm is located. Be sure to test the stethoscope before using it to make sure you can hear properly. You can do that by tapping on the stethoscope. It’s also helpful to have a high quality stethoscope.
  5. Slowly deflate the balloon as you listen through the stethoscope to hear the first “whoosh” of the blood flowing. Record or remember that number. This is your systolic blood pressure.
  6. You’ll hear the blood pulsing, so keep listening and allow the balloon to slowly deflate until that rhythm stops. When the rhythm stops, record that measurement. This is your diastolic blood pressure.
  7. You’ll record your blood pressure as the systolic over the diastolic, such as 115/75.

Before checking your blood pressure at home, it’s best to check first with a doctor or healthcare professional about how they’d like you to monitor and record it. For example, they may prefer you to check your blood pressure:

  • before or after you take a certain medication
  • at certain times of the day
  • when you’re stressed or feeling dizzy

To get the most accurate blood pressure reading, remember the following tips:

  • Make sure the blood pressure cuff is the right size for you. Cuffs come in different sizes, including pediatric sizes, if you have very small arms. You should be able to comfortably slip one finger between your arm and the cuff when it’s deflated.
  • The cuff should go directly on your arm. Be sure not to place the cuff over your clothes.
  • Avoid smoking, drinking, or exercising 30 minutes before taking your blood pressure.
  • Be sure to sit with your back straight and your feet flat on the floor. Your feet shouldn’t be crossed.
  • Take your blood pressure at different times of the day and record the exact times of each measurement.
  • Rest 3 to 5 minutesTrusted Source before taking your blood pressure and a few extra minutes if you’ve recently been very active.
  • Take at least two readings, 1 to 2 minutesTrusted Source apart, every time to make sure they’re correct. The readings should be within a few numbers of each other.
  • Take your blood pressure at different times throughout the day to get the most accurate readings and ranges.
  • Bring your at-home monitor to a doctor’s office at least once a year to calibrate it and make sure it’s working correctly.

Various automated models are available that take a blood pressure reading from your wrist or finger. While these are convenient and designed for easier use, they’re less reliable than upper arm monitors.

The AHA does not recommendTrusted Source using wrist or finger monitors to check your blood pressure at home. These devices tend to give unreliable readingsTrusted Source since the blood vessels in your wrist and finger are smaller and closer to your skin. They’re also more prone to user error.

Experts generally consider “normal” blood pressure to be anything less than 120/80 mm HgTrusted Source. However, what’s “normal” can vary from person to person. Your personal blood pressure will depend on your:

  • sex assigned at birth
  • age
  • weight
  • medications you’re taking
  • any medical conditions you have

Blood pressure chart

While everyone is different, the AHATrusted Source recommends the following ranges for healthy adults:

CategorySystolicDiastolic
Normalless than 120less than 80
Elevated120 to 129less than 80
High blood pressure stage 1 (hypertension)130 to 13980 to 89
High blood pressure stage 2 (hypertension)140 or higher90 or higher
Hypertensive crisis (call your local emergency services)higher than 180higher than 120

It’s important to remember that both your systolic and diastolic numbers need to be in the normal range for your blood pressure to be considered normal.

If one number falls into one of the other categories, doctors consider your blood pressure to be in that category. For example, a blood pressure reading of 115/92 would be stage 2 hypertension.

Important

If your blood pressure ever goes over 180 systolic or 120 diastolic after a repeat reading, seek emergency medical care right awayTrusted Source.

Although some apps promise to check your blood pressure without using equipment, this isn’t an accurate or reliable method.

However, apps are available to help you track your blood pressure results. This can help a doctor identify patterns in your blood pressure and determine if you require blood pressure medications.

Some examples of free apps to monitor blood pressure include:

  • Blood Pressure Monitor (iOS)
  • Blood Pressure (Android)
  • Blood Pressure Companion (iOS and macOS)

These apps can help you quickly and easily track your blood pressure readings. Measuring your blood pressure regularly on the same arm can help you most accurately track your blood pressure readings.

Monitoring your blood pressure can help you and your doctor identify any issues early on. If treatment is needed, it’s better to start it early before damage has occurred in your arteries.

If you have consistently high blood pressure readings, talk with a healthcare professional to rule out hypertension. If you’re already taking medication for your blood pressure, your doctor may adjust your medication or recommend additional treatments.

You can measure your blood pressure at home manually or by using an automated blood pressure cuff. The AHA recommends automated cuffs, which are easier to use and more highly available. The more complicated manual method involves using a stethoscope and a cuff with a squeezable balloon and aneroid monitor.

If you’re unsure how to measure your blood pressure properly, a healthcare professional can show you how.

It’s also important to share your blood pressure readings with a doctor, especially if the readings are outside of a normal range. This will help a doctor identify any issues early on and determine the right type of treatment for you.