Blood Pressure Monitoring

Remember these steps when taking your blood pressure (BP):

• Rest for 2 minutes with your feet flat on the floor and your back supported before taking your BP
• Have your arm supported with the arm and BP machine at the level of your heart (chest)
• Take 3 BP readings, each reading one minute apart:
  1.Throw out the first reading
  2.Take the average of the 2nd and 3rd readings
  3.Record the average of the readings
• Take one set of readings first thing in the morning before taking your medication
• Take the second set of readings about 12 hours later
• Bring you BP record with you to your next appointment

Example:

• 2nd reading: 144/92
• 3rd reading: 156/96
• 2nd reading + 3rd reading/2  = average systolic or diastolic reading
• Average systolic pressure: 144 + 156 = 300/2 = 150
• Average diastolic pressure:  92 + 96 = 188/2= 94
• Average  BP: 150/94

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