Home blood pressure: cuff fit, timing, and what to write down
Better data beats occasional clinic readings—if the technique is steady.
Before you measure
Empty your bladder. Sit five minutes with feet flat, back supported, arm supported at heart level. No caffeine or exercise for 30 minutes if you can avoid it.
Cuff size
A cuff that is too small reads high. If the index line on your cuff falls outside the printed range on your arm, ask your pharmacist about sizing—not all arms fit “standard.”
What to log
Date, time, two readings one minute apart, and whether you took morning medicines yet. Bring two weeks of logs to medication visits unless your clinician asks for a different window.
Seek urgent care for sudden severe headache with very high readings, chest pain, weakness on one
side, or trouble speaking—these are not “wait until Tuesday” symptoms.
Reviewed by A. Nguyen, MD · March 2026