- 1). Read the instructions of your home blood pressure monitor before using it. Rest for 5 minutes before taking the reading. Sit up with your arm stretched out at heart level. Wrap the blood pressure cuff around your arm, approximately 1 1/2 inches above your elbow. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for taking the blood pressure reading.
- 2). Look at the top number of the blood pressure reading. Write this number down so you can easily reference it later. Record the date that you took the reading, the time and which arm you used. The top number is called the systolic reading. It measures the surge of pressure of blood entering the blood stream each time your heart contracts. Generally, a systolic reading between 120 and 140 is considered normal. See your physician immediately if the systolic reading falls out of this range.
- 3). Look at the lower number of the blood pressure indicator. Write down the number, the date, time and which arm you used to take the reading. The bottom number of the blood pressure indicator is the diastolic pressure. It measures the blood pressure when the heart is between beats. A diastolic reading between 70 and 90 is considered normal. See your physician if your diastolic number falls out of this range.
- 4). Get your blood pressure checked by a health care professional on a regular basis. Although it is important to monitor your blood pressure at home, a home blood pressure indicator can be inaccurate. Your physician can suggest ways to keep your blood pressure within a normal range and can tell you what blood pressure reading is ideal for your body.
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