Measuring your blood pressure at home

Before taking your reading, please make sure:

you do not need the toilet
you have not just eaten a large meal
you have not had caffeine, smoked, exercised or drunk alcohol in the last 30 minutes
you are relaxed, comfortable and sitting quietly
you are wearing loose-fitting clothing, so the cuff can be placed on your bare upper arm

How to measure your own blood pressure

Sit in a quiet place for a few minutes before taking your reading.

Where possible, keep your feet flat on the floor and rest your arm on a firm surface, such as a table, with your palm facing upwards.

The cuff should be placed around your upper arm, if you are using an arm cuff, and should be level with your heart.

Please use the same arm each time, as readings can be slightly different between arms.

Please watch the British Heart Foundation video below on how to measure your Blood Pressure at home.

Things to avoid 30 minutes before BP measurement: Food, Alcohol, Exercise, Smoking, Bathing

Put the cuff on your arm, following the instructions provided with your blood pressure monitor.

When taking your reading, sit still and stay quiet.

Moving or talking can affect the result.

Take two readings in the morning and two readings in the evening, leaving about two minutes between each reading.

Record the second reading only for both the morning and evening.

Please do this for 5 or 7 days, as requested by your clinician.

Record your:

Understanding your blood pressure reading

Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury, written as mmHg.

A blood pressure monitor usually shows three numbers.

For example: 132 / 78 / 69

This would usually be said as “132 over 78, with a pulse of 69.”

The first number, SYS, is your systolic blood pressure.

This is the pressure when your heart beats and pushes blood around your body.

The second number, DIA, is your diastolic blood pressure.

This is the pressure when your heart relaxes between beats and refills with blood.

The third number, PUL, is your pulse.

This is your heart rate, or the number of times your heart beats each minute.

What the abbreviations mean

SYS = Systolic blood pressure
DIA = Diastolic blood pressure
PUL = Pulse or heart rate

If you are worried about your blood pressure readings before your clinician review, you can check your results using the link below.

The link will give you advice on what your readings may mean and what to do next:

Blood Pressure online submission forms

5-days home blood pressure form

Please only submit your readings once you have finished recording your Blood Pressure for 5 consecutive days.

5-days home blood pressure form
This form is intended for patients already on medication for high or low blood pressure for Medication Review Purpose. If you have not been Diagnosed with high or low BP please complete the 7 Day Form.

7-day home blood pressure readings

Please only submit your readings once you have finished recording your Blood Pressure for 7 consecutive days.