If you get an unexpectedly high reading, don’t panic and don’t re-test obsessively. Rest, recheck after a few minutes, and look at the trend. Treat a reading at or above 180/120 with symptoms as an emergency — call 911.
Before you measure
- Avoid caffeine, exercise, and smoking for 30 minutes. Each can temporarily raise your reading.
- Empty your bladder. A full bladder can nudge readings upward.
- Rest quietly for 5 minutes. Sit calmly before you start — rushing inflates the number.
Get into the right position
- Sit with your back supported and feet flat on the floor — don’t cross your legs.
- Rest your arm on a table so the cuff sits at heart level.
- Put the cuff on a bare upper arm, not over clothing.
- Don’t talk or look at your phone during the reading.
Use the right cuff size
Cuff size is one of the most common sources of error: a cuff that’s too small can read falsely high, and one too large can read falsely low. Measure around your bare upper arm and match it to your monitor’s cuff range. This is also one reason most clinicians prefer a validated upper-arm monitor over a wrist device.Take more than one reading
Take two or three readings about a minute apart and record the average — the first is often the highest. Many people measure twice a day, once in the morning (before medication and caffeine) and once in the evening, at consistent times.Keep a log
Write down your readings or use your monitor’s memory, and bring the record to appointments. A trend over days and weeks is far more useful to your doctor than any single number. SonoHealth’s BPpro and BPMAX are built for this kind of simple, repeatable home routine — see them at SonoHealth.com.Related: Home Monitoring Guide · Normal Blood Pressure Ranges · Upper-Arm vs. Wrist · When to Worry