Measuring blood pressure at home: Do you know the right way?

Most homes have a sphygmomanometer. But how often should we measure blood pressure at home? Are there any secrets to proper measurement? Which sphygmomanometer should I choose? 

How often should I measure my blood pressure at home? 

Daily measurement of blood pressure at home is unnecessary and can simply be another source of stress! If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure (hypertension), it is a good idea to measure your blood pressure 1-2 times a month with a certified electronic arm sphygmomanometer. But before you visit your doctor to monitor and regulate hypertension or whenever your doctor has indicated (eg before and after any change in your medication), it is necessary to measure your blood pressure daily for a week. So this week you have to measure it in the morning - before any medication - and in the evening. Some doctors also require noon measurements.

Are there "secrets" to proper measurement?

 
Of course, and in fact it is enough!
1. At least half an hour before the measurement, avoid coffee, eating a meal and smoking.
2. Sit for about 5 minutes before the measurement, in a quiet place.
3. Rest your back on the back of the chair and your hand loosely on a stable surface (eg table). 
4. Our feet must rest on the floor and our feet must not be cross-legged: otherwise the vessels of the lower extremities are pressed and the value of the pressure will be wrong.
4. Our feet must rest on the floor and our feet must not be cross-legged: otherwise the vessels of the lower extremities are pressed and the value of the pressure will be wrong. 
5. After each measurement, we keep notes with the values, ideally in a special recording form. 

It is interesting that:
- Generally at home, the first measurement is usually slightly higher than the second. 
- The prices - limits for the home are somewhat lower than the doctor's office, because there is no white shirt effect (at home the limit is considered to be 135/85 mmHg while in the doctor's office 140/90 mmHg). 
- If done correctly, as described above, the average of a week of measurements at home is more reliable than the measurements in the doctor's office!

What kind of sphygmomanometer should I choose?

Measuring blood pressure is the key to properly treating hypertension. Measuring blood pressure at home is nowadays a simple, reliable and affordable method. The electronic sphygmomanometer is a valuable ally: it measures pressure with one movement. It records both systolic and diastolic pressure, as well as the heartbeat.