Measuring your blood pressure at home

Why measuring at home is important

Some people find that their blood pressure at home is much lower than when measured at the doctor's surgery. And because blood pressure can change in any situation, a single measurement at the doctor's surgery is not meaningful. If you want to be sure that your blood pressure is good on average, then measuring it at home is the most accurate method. Home measurements allow us to better estimate your average blood pressure.

Even if you are taking medication for high blood pressure, you only need to visit the doctor's surgery once a year for a check-up. Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle and continue taking your medication to keep your blood pressure under control. In the meantime, you can measure your blood pressure yourself at home once a month to see if the medication is working properly.

How do I measure my blood pressure?

To measure your blood pressure, it is a good idea to practise beforehand. Measure twice a day: in the morning and in the evening, and make sure that you do not exert yourself, smoke or drink coffee for half an hour before the measurement.

• Sit on a high chair, sitting upright with your legs together.
• Sit quietly for at least 5 minutes, without talking.
• Then measure your blood pressure.
• Always write down what you have measured: the upper pressure and the lower pressure.
• Measure the blood pressure again after 2 minutes. Record the upper and lower pressure again.

Do this every morning and evening for 5 days. Each time, note down the date, the time, the upper pressure and the lower pressure. It is normal for your blood pressure to be higher at some times than at others.

Blood pressure at home is often lower than at your GP's surgery (on average 5 points lower). For some people, it can be much lower. For example, if you feel tense at the GP's surgery, sometimes without even realising it.