1. How to Check Your Blood Pressure
with a Sphygmomanometer
2. It's a good idea to have your blood pressure
checked regularly. However, many unfortunate
people suffer from "white coat hypertension", a
state of anxiety which causes their blood pressure
to skyrocket as soon as they are approached by a
medical professional wearing a dreaded
stethoscope. Taking your own readings at home
can eliminate this anxiety and allow you to
estimate your average blood pressure in day-to-
day, real-life situations
3. Part 1 of 3: Setting Up the Equipment
Sit down and open the
blood pressure testing
kit. Sit down at a table or
desk where you can easily
set up the necessary
equipment. Remove the
cuff, stethoscope,
pressure gauge, and bulb
(also known as a
"bladder") from the kit,
taking care to untangle
the various tubes.
4. 2. Raise your arm to heart
level. Elevate your arm so
that when you bend your
elbow, your elbow is parallel
to your heart. This ensures
that you will not get either
an overestimated or
underestimated reading on
your blood pressure. It is
also important that your
arm is supported during the
reading, so make sure to
rest your elbow on a stable
surface.
5. Wrap the cuff around your
upper arm. Most cuffs
have Velcro, making it
easy to secure the cuff in
place. If your shirt has
long or thick sleeves, roll
them up first, as you can
only put the cuff over
very thin clothing. The
bottom edge of the cuff
should be about an inch
above the elbow.[1]
6. 4. Make sure the cuff is
snug, but not too tight. If
the cuff is too loose, the
cuff will not cut off the
artery correctly, giving
you an inaccurately low
blood pressure reading. If
the cuff is too tight, it will
create what is known as
"cuff hypertension" and
give you an inaccurately
high reading.[2]
7. 5. Place the wide head of the
stethoscope on your
arm. The head of the
stethoscope (also known as
the diaphragm) should be
placed flat against the skin
on the inside of your arm.
The edge of the diaphragm
should be just beneath the
cuff, positioned over the
brachial artery. Gently put
the earpieces of the
stethoscope in your ears.
8. 6Clip the pressure gauge to a stable
surface. If the pressure gauge is
clipped to the cuff, unclip it and
attach it to something sturdy
instead, such as a hardcover
book. That way, you can place it
in front of you on the table,
making it easier to watch. It's
important to keep the gauge
anchored and stable.
– Make sure there is adequate light
and you can see the needle and
pressure markings well before you
begin to test.
– Sometimes the gauge is attached
to the rubber bulb, in which case
this step does not apply.
9. Take the rubber bulb and tighten
the valve. The valve needs to be
closed completely before you
start. This will ensure that no air
escapes as you pump, which
would produce an inaccurate
reading. Twist the valve
clockwise, until you feel it
stopTake the rubber bulb and
tighten the valve. The valve
needs to be closed completely
before you start. This will ensure
that no air escapes as you pump,
which would produce an
inaccurate reading. Twist the
valve clockwise, until you feel it
stop
10. Part 2 of 3: Taking the Blood Pressure
Inflate the cuff. Rapidly
pump the bulb to inflate
the cuff. Keep pumping
until the needle on the
gauge reaches 180mmHg.
The pressure from the
cuff will occlude a large
artery in the bicep,
temporarily cutting off
blood flow. This is why
the pressure from the cuff
can feel a little
uncomfortable or strange.
11. 1. Release the valve. Gently turn the valve on
the bulb counter-clockwise, so that the air in
the cuff is released steadily, at a moderate
pace. Keep an eye on the gauge; for best
accuracy, the needle should be moving
downwards at a rate of 3mm per second
12. • 1
• Inflate the cuff. Rapidly pump the bulb to inflate the cuff.
Keep pumping until the needle on the gauge reaches
180mmHg. The pressure from the cuff will occlude a large
artery in the bicep, temporarily cutting off blood flow. This
is why the pressure from the cuff can feel a little
uncomfortable or strange.
• 2
• Release the valve. Gently turn the valve on the bulb
counter-clockwise, so that the air in the cuff is released
steadily, at a moderate pace. Keep an eye on the gauge; for
best accuracy, the needle should be moving downwards at
a rate of 3mm per second.[3]
– Releasing the valve while you hold the stethoscope can be a
little tricky. Try releasing the valve with the hand on your cuff
arm, while holding the stethoscope with your free arm.
13. • 3
• Note your systolic blood pressure. As the pressure drops, use the
stethoscope to listen for a thumping or knocking sound. When you hear
the first thump, make a note of the pressure on the gauge. This is your
systolic blood pressure.
– The systolic number represents the pressure your blood flow exerts on the
walls of an artery after the heart beats or contracts. It is the higher number of
the two blood pressure readings, and when blood pressure is written down, it
appears at the top.[4]
– The clinical name for the thumping sounds your hear is "Korotkoff sounds".
• 4
• Note your diastolic blood pressure. Keep watching the gauge, while using
the stethoscope to listen to the thumping noises. Eventually the hard
thumping noises will turn into a "whooshing" sound. It is helpful to note
this change, as it indicates that you are close to your diastolic blood
pressure. As soon as the whooshing noise subsides, and you hear only
silence, make a note of the pressure on the gauge. This is your diastolic
blood pressure.
– The diastolic number represents the pressure your blood flow exerts on the
walls of an artery when your heart relaxes between contractions. It is the
lower number of the two blood pressure readings, and when blood pressure is
written down, it appears at the bottom.
14. • 5
• Don't worry if you miss a reading. If you miss the exact
measure of either number, it's perfectly acceptable to
pump the cuff back up a little to catch it.
– Just don't do it too much (more than twice) as this can affect
accuracy.
– Alternatively, you can switch the cuff to the other arm and
repeat the process again.
• 6
• Check your blood pressure again. Blood pressure
fluctuates within minutes (sometimes dramatically) so if
you take two readings within about a ten-minute period,
you can come up with a more accurate average number.
– For the most accurate results, check your blood pressure a
second time, five to ten minutes after the first go.
– It may also be a good idea to use your other arm for the second
reading, especially if your first reading was abnormal.
15. 1. Understand what the
readings mean. Once
you have recorded your
blood pressure, it is
important to know
what the numbers
mean. Use the following
guide for reference:
16. – Normal blood pressure: Systolic number of less
than 120 and diastolic number of less than 80.
– Prehypertension: Systolic number between 120
and 139, diastolic number between 80 and 89.
– Stage 1 Hypertension: Systolic number between
140 and 159, diastolic number between 90 and
99.
– Stage 2 Hypertension: Systolic number higher
than 160 and diastolic number higher than 100.
– Hypertensive Crisis: Systolic number higher than
180 and diastolic number higher than 110.[5]
17. 2.Don't worry if your blood pressure is
low. Even if your blood pressure readings are
far below the 120/80 "normal" mark, there is
no cause for concern. A low blood pressure
reading of, say, 85/55 mmHg is still considered
to be normal, as long as no symptoms of low
blood pressure are present.
– However, if you are experiencing symptoms of
dizziness, lightheadedness, dehydration, nausea,
blurred vision and/or fatigue, it is advisable that
you see a doctor as your low blood pressure may
be the result of an underlying condition.[6]
18. 3.Know when to seek treatment. It's important to
understand that a single high reading does not
necessarily mean that you have high blood pressure. It
could be the result of many factors.
– If you take your blood pressure after exercising; after eating
salty foods, drinking coffee or smoking; or during a period of
high stress, your blood pressure might be
uncharacteristically high. If the blood pressure cuff was too
loose or too tight on your arm or too large or too small for
your size, the readings could be inaccurate. As a result, you
shouldn't worry too much about one-off readings, especially
if your blood pressure is back to normal the next time you
check it.
– However, if your blood pressure is consistently at or higher
than 140/90 mm Hg, you may want to consult with a doctor
who can put you on a treatment plan, which usually involves
a combination of healthy eating and exercise.
19. • If you get a systolic reading of 180 or higher,
or a diastolic reading of 110 or higher, wait a
few minutes then check your blood pressure
again. If it is still at that level, you need to
contact emergency medical
services immediately, as you may be suffering
from a hypertensive crisis.[5]
