Proper Technique for Blood Pressure Measurement

A small amount of normal fluctuation in blood pressure occurs during different times of the day. While obtaining multiple measurements corrects for these daytime fluctuations, there are some special timing issues that should be addressed when measuring blood pressure. In general, blood pressure should be measured:

• Before taking any morning doses of high blood pressure medicine
• No less than 1 hour after exercising, smoking, or consuming caffeine
• After allowing for about 10 minutes to adjust to the temperature in the examining room

• Proper Technique Can Save Your Life
• When Should Blood Pressure Be Measured?
• Choose the Proper Cuff Size
• Accurate Blood Pressure Readings Require Proper Positioning
• Multiple Blood Pressure Readings Should Be Taken
• Expect Correct Technique