Hypertension
Monitoring Your Blood Pressure
Many healthy behaviors (stopping smoking, eating better, getting active, and losing weight) do not require any input from a health care professional. Health care professionals can help patients live longer and healthier lives with more aggressive blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar control. Patients can check their blood pressures at home and the Health Care Remotely can track blood pressures without a face-to-face visit and adjust medications as needed. This page walks through the different steps to set up home blood pressure measurements with our practice.
Get the right blood pressure cuff for you
Measure the distance around your upper arm halfway between your shoulder and elbow. Most cuffs are listed in centimeters instead of inches.
Choose a validated blood pressure cuff. There are at least two groups (US Blood Pressure Validated Device Listing and Stride BP) that use international standards to verify blood pressure machine accuracy. The A&D Medical Essential Blood Pressure Monitor (UA-651) is approved by both groups, accommodates nearly every arm size and, as of November 2022, costs about $41 on Amazon.
Tips for getting an accurate blood pressure reading
- Empty your bladder.
- Empty your bladder.
- Sit in a chair where your back and feet are supported.
- Sit in a chair where your back and feet are supported.
- Keep your legs uncrossed.
- Keep your legs uncrossed.
- Wrap the cuff around a bare arm (placing the cuff over clothing can falsely elevate the reading).
- Wrap the cuff around a bare arm (placing the cuff over clothing can falsely elevate the reading).
- Support the arm at heart level (e.g., keep it resting on a desk).
After one measurement, wait one to three minutes and take a second measurement.
Initial monitoring schedule
- If we decide that you might benefit from blood pressure monitoring, we would like you to record four blood pressure measurements a day for seven days: twice in the morning and twice in the evening. The two readings in the morning and evening should be taken at least one minute apart.
- Email the blood pressure measurements to clinical@hcremotely.com or enter them within the practice portal.
Goal blood pressure by home monitor
- For patients under age 60, the goal systolic blood pressure by home monitor is less than 125 mm Hg.
- For patients 60 and older with chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes OR peripheral vascular disease, the goal systolic blood pressure by home monitor is less than 135 mm Hg.
- For patients 60 and older without chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes OR peripheral vascular disease, the goal systolic blood pressure by home monitor is less than 145 mm Hg.