Our clinicians may ask you to monitor your blood pressure (BP) at home to help with diagnosis or as part of your ongoing care.
If you have been asked to do this, please follow the guidance below and complete the Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Chart at the bottom of this page.
How to take your blood pressure at home
Before you start
- Sit and rest for 5 minutes.
- Do not smoke, exercise, or drink caffeine for 30 minutes beforehand.
- Empty your bladder.
- Use the same arm each time—ideally the one used in the surgery.
- Do not take readings over clothing.
Positioning
- Sit in a quiet place with your feet flat on the floor.
- Rest your arm on a firm surface so the cuff is level with your heart.
- Keep still and do not talk while the reading is being taken.
Taking the readings
- Take 2 readings, 2 minutes apart.
- Record both readings then write down the average on the monitoring sheet.
- Occasional high readings can happen—repeat the measurement at another time.
- If your BP is consistently higher than your target, please contact the surgery.
How often to measure your BP
For diagnosis
Take readings for at least 1 week, in the morning and evening.
Discard the first day’s readings (they can be affected by anxiety).
For long-term monitoring
Once your BP is stable, record a reading every 2–3 days for one week each month, preferably at the same time of day.
Helpful resources
- The British Heart Foundation has excellent information on home monitoring.
- The British and Irish Hypertension Society provides guidance on BP targets and technique.