Cardiovascular

How to Check Your Blood Pressure

Your blood pressure measures how strongly your blood pushes against the walls of your arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to your body.

Your health care provider will check your blood pressure at office visits. You may need to take your blood pressure at home:

If you have high blood pressure. This is also called hypertension.
To watch your blood pressure over time.
To make sure your blood pressure medicines are working.

Supplies needed:

A blood pressure machine called a monitor.
A chair to sit in. This should be a chair where you can sit upright with your back supported. Do not sit on a soft couch or an armchair.
Table or desk.
Small notebook.
Pencil or pen.

How to prepare

For 30 minutes before you check your blood pressure, do not:

Drink caffeine.
Drink alcohol.
Smoke.
Exercise.

Around 5 minutes before you check your blood pressure:

Go to the bathroom and pee.
Sit quietly in a chair. Do not talk.

How to take your blood pressure

Follow the instructions in the manual that came with your blood pressure monitor. It may say to:

Sit up straight.
Place your feet flat on the floor. Do not cross your ankles or legs.
Rest your left arm at the level of your heart. You may rest it on a table, desk, or chair.
Pull up your shirt sleeve. It's best to wrap the cuff around bare skin.
Wrap the blood pressure cuff around the upper part of your left arm. The cuff should be 1 inch (2.5 cm) above your elbow.
Fit the cuff snugly around your arm but not too tightly. You should be able to place only one finger between the cuff and your arm.
Place the cord so that it rests in the bend of your elbow.
Press the power button.
Sit quietly while the cuff fills with air and loses air.
Write down the numbers on the screen.
Wait 1-2 minutes, then repeat the steps, starting at step 1.

What do the numbers mean?

Your blood pressure is made up of 2 numbers. The first number is called systolic pressure. The second is called diastolic pressure.

Your blood pressure is measured in a unit called millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). A healthy blood pressure should be below 120/80 mm Hg.

If you're an adult and do not have a serious illness that's causing high blood pressure, use this guide to find out if your blood pressure is normal:

Normal

First number: below 120.
Second number: below 80.

Elevated

First number: 120–129.
Second number: below 80.

Hypertension stage 1

First number: 130–139.
Second number: 80–89.

Hypertension stage 2

First number: 140 or above.
Second number: 90 or above.

Your blood pressure is above normal even if only the first or second number is above normal.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

Take your medicines only as told.

General instructions

Check your blood pressure as often as you're told.
Check your blood pressure at the same time every day.
Take your monitor to your next appointment with your provider. Your provider will:
- Make sure you're using it correctly.
- Make sure it's working right.
Keep all follow-up visits. Your provider will go over your blood pressure readings with you.

General tips

You can find a blood pressure monitor at a drugstore or online. Your provider can also suggest one for you. When choosing one:

Pick one with an arm cuff.
Pick one that wraps around your upper arm. Only one finger should fit between your arm and the cuff.
Do not choose one that measures your blood pressure from your wrist or finger.

Where to find more information

To learn more:

Go to heart.org.
Click "Search."
Type "home blood pressure monitoring" in the search field and find the link you need.

Contact a health care provider if:

Your blood pressure keeps being high.
Your blood pressure is low all of a sudden.
You have side effects from your blood pressure medicine.

Get help right away if:

Your first blood pressure number is higher than 180.
Your second blood pressure number is higher than 120.

These symptoms may be an emergency. Call 911 right away.

Do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away.
Do not drive yourself to the hospital.

This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.

Document Revised: 05/12/2025 Document Reviewed: 05/12/2025