Authors: Lígia Mendes, José Ferreira Santos It is estimated that more than half of the Portuguese population will develop high blood pressure at some point in their life. High blood pressure may not be accompanied by any alarm symptoms. So, it is important to measure it regularly . Blood pressure should be assessed by the attending physician at least once a year. Your physician may request you to monitor values regularly at home, with or without the assistance of another person. The assessment and recording of blood pressure values at home is very important, because it helps the physician to understand if there is a risk of developing hypertension or if the blood pressure is controlled with the medication that has been prescribed. What is the best device to measure blood pressure at home? There are several models of non-professional equipment for measuring blood pressure: with an arm sleeve (cuff), for wrist or finger. In general, arm sleeve equipment is more reliable. So, if you are going to buy a new one, prefer one with an arm sleeve. If you are going to buy equipment, you should also give preference to one that is tested and validated to correctly measure blood pressure at home. On its website, the European Society of Hypertension has a list of the tested and recommended equipment . Ideally, you should always take your measurements with the same device and following the instructions. If you change devices, record the date you started using the new equipment. How often should I take blood pressure at home? If you do not have high blood pressure, you should measure your blood pressure 2 to 4 times a year. If you have high blood pressure and are taking medication, you should: In the week before each appointment with your doctor: measure your blood pressure every day, in the morning and evening; Between consultations: if your physician does not give you any specific instructions, you should measure your blood pressure at least once a week. How to measure blood pressure at home correctly? In the morning , take the measurement upon waking, before taking the medication or eating. At night , take the measurement two hours after dinner and before going to bed. Before measurement Sit comfortably, with your back supported, and rest for five minutes before taking the measurement. It is important not to measure blood pressure when you are experiencing any emotional disturbance or physical change (for example, urinary urgency). Do not smoke or drink coffee or other stimulating drinks one hour before taking the measurement. Measuring blood pressure with an arm sleeve equipment Place the cuff (which should be suitable for your arm diameter) so that its lower edge is about three centimeters above your elbow. Do not wear clothes that are tight to the arm. Support the arm (for example on a table), so that the cuff is at the level of your heart and never at a lower level. Do not speak and do not cross your legs during the measurement. Take three measurements one to two minutes apart. Delete the first measurement and record the values of the other two measurements. Measuring blood pressure with a wrist equipment If it is not possible to measure blood pressure with an arm sleeve equipment. The measurement should be made on the wrist where the values are usually higher and respect the following rules: Place the cuff on your wrist so that its bottom edge is about 1 to 1.5 cm from your palm. Support your elbow on a flat surface (for example, a table) and place your wrist at heart level, with your hand resting on your chest. For reference, the wrist should be in the lower area of the sternum and the hand supported below the collarbone on the opposite side to the wrist used. Place the cuff on your wrist so that its bottom edge is about 1 to 1.5 cm from the palm of your hand. Support the elbow on a flat surface (table for example) and place the wrist at the level of your heart, with the hand resting on the chest (for reference, the wrist should be in the distal third of the sternum and the hand supported below the left collarbone). Keep your arm relaxed and immobile when measuring. Do not speak and do not cross your legs during the measurement. Take three measurements spaced one to two minutes apart. Delete the first measurement and record the values of the other two. Example Values measured 1 st - 148/92 mmHg - eliminate the values of this measurement 2 nd - 135/89 mmHg - record values 3 rd - 138/84 mmHg - record values Record only the 2 nd and 3 rd measurement. Register your blood pressure in MY LUZ In MY LUZ, your personal online area at Hospital da Luz, you can record your blood pressure values on the card already prepared for that and which is available in My Health - My Records - Blood Pressure and Pulse. These records made at MY LUZ can then be shared with your physicians during consultations or videoconsultations at Hospital da Luz. If you do not have MY LUZ register now . Read also about blood pressure and hypertension . Meet the cardiology team from Hospital da Luz network The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
