Before you measure
- Avoid caffeine, exercise and smoking for 30 minutes.
- Empty your bladder.
- Sit quietly for 5 minutes.
Your position
- Sit with your back supported and feet flat on the floor, legs uncrossed.
- Rest your arm on a table so the cuff is at heart level.
- Put the cuff on bare skin on your upper arm.
During the reading
Don't talk. Take 2–3 readings about 1 minute apart and write them all down (or log them in FourNumbers).
Your routine
Measure at the same times each day, for example morning and evening.
What the numbers mean (American Heart Association categories for adults)
| Category | Systolic (top number) | Diastolic (bottom number) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Less than 120 | and | Less than 80 |
| Elevated | 120–129 | and | Less than 80 |
| Stage 1 high blood pressure | 130–139 | or | 80–89 |
| Stage 2 high blood pressure | 140 or higher | or | 90 or higher |
If your reading is higher than 180/120, wait a few minutes and check again. If it's still that high, contact your doctor right away. Call 911 if you also have chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness or weakness, a change in vision, or difficulty speaking.
Only your doctor can diagnose high blood pressure. Bring your readings to your appointments — FourNumbers can turn them into a PDF report.
Source: American Heart Association — High Blood Pressure.