Cardiologist shows how to monitor blood pressure at home

However, not everyone knows how to measure blood pressure correctly, and just one small mistake can distort the results by up to 10%, according to the Hindustan Times .

Dr. Danielle Belardo, a cardiologist in the US, recommends that you follow the correct steps to ensure that your home blood pressure readings accurately reflect your true health status.

Choose the right device

Ms. Belardo emphasizes using an upper arm blood pressure monitor instead of a wrist-worn one, as the upper arm cuff device gives more accurate results.

Photo: AI

For people without professional training, it is not recommended to use a manual measuring device with a stethoscope, but to choose an automatic measuring device to ensure accuracy and convenience.

In addition, you should choose a device that has memory to save results or can connect to your phone to easily monitor blood pressure over time.

Equally important is that the cuff size should fit the circumference of your arm - not too loose or too tight. Using the wrong size can result in inaccurate measurements.

Preparation before measuring blood pressure

Do not smoke, drink coffee or exercise for 30 minutes before taking a measurement. These activities can temporarily increase your blood pressure and cause inaccurate results. Instead, sit down and rest for 5 minutes to stabilize your pulse and blood pressure.

Sit in the correct position when measuring blood pressure

When measuring, the user should sit on a chair with a backrest, keep the back straight, both feet flat on the floor and not crossed.

The arm being measured should be placed on a flat surface such as a table or chair arm, with the upper arm at the same level as the heart. This position helps to minimize the effect of gravity on blood flow in the body.

How and when to measure

For objective results, you should place the cuff directly on the skin, about 2-3 cm from the elbow. Also, do not measure over clothing as this may affect the pressure.

When measuring, it is necessary to do it at least 2 times in a row, about 1 minute apart to get the average value.

The best time to measure is in the morning, before taking medication and eating, or in the evening, before dinner.

Measuring blood pressure at the same time each day helps to track fluctuations more consistently. For people undergoing medical treatment, it may be necessary to measure twice a day as directed by your doctor.