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Checking Your Blood Pressure

Step-by-Step

  1. Icons of wine glass, coffee cup, and running shoes, each inside the prohibition sign.

    1. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and exercise for at least 30 minutes.

  2. Icon of toilet inside circle.

    2. Use the bathroom before taking a reading.

  3. Person sitting straight in chair with clock showing time passing.

    3. Sit up straight for 5 minutes.

  4. Icons of message bubbles, TV, and phone each inside a prohibition sign.

    4. Avoid talking and using screens.

  5. Person’s arm resting on flat surface with palm facing up and blood pressure monitor and cuff close by.

    5. Rest your arm with your palm facing up.

  6. Person’s arm resting on flat surface with palm facing up, shirt sleeve rolled up and blood pressure cuff wrapped around upper arm above elbow.

    6. Wrap the cuff on bare skin above your elbow.

  7. Finger pressing power button on monitor.

    7. Turn on the blood pressure monitor.

  8. Finger pressing start button on monitor.

    8. Press “start” to take a reading.

  9. Arrow pointing at top number on screen.

    9. Read the top number, called systolic blood pressure.

  10. Arrow pointing to second number on screen.

    10. Read the bottom number, called diastolic blood pressure.

  11. Piece of paper with hand writing down blood pressure reading.

    11. Record both numbers.

  12. Person sitting straight in chair, with clock showing time passing.

    12. Stay seated and rest for 1 minute.

  13. Finger pressing start button on blood pressure monitor screen to take reading and hand with pencil and arrows showing steps repeating.

    13. Repeat steps 8 to 12 one more time.

Online Medical Reviewer: Robyn Zercher FNP
Online Medical Reviewer: Stacey Wojcik MBA BSN RN
Date Last Reviewed: 1/1/2025
© 2000-2026 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
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