Rest for 5 minutes before measuring
Avoid caffeine, exercise, smoking, and alcohol for 30 minutes before measuring
Sit upright with your back supported and feet flat on the floor
Keep your arm supported at heart level
Use the correct cuff size for your arm
Place the cuff on bare skin, not over clothing
Wrap the cuff snugly around your upper arm
Turn on the blood pressure monitor
Stay still and do not talk while the reading is taken
Record the systolic and diastolic numbers shown
Take 2 to 3 readings, 1 minute apart, and note the average
Check blood pressure at the same time each day if monitoring regularly
Follow the device instructions if using a home blood pressure monitor
Ask a healthcare professional to show you how to use the device if needed