Use an automatic upper-arm blood pressure monitor
Sit quietly for 5 minutes before measuring
Keep your back supported and feet flat on the floor
Rest your arm on a table at heart level
Place the cuff on bare skin, not over clothing
Make sure the cuff size fits your arm
Do not talk or move during the reading
Take two or three readings, 1 minute apart
Record the systolic and diastolic numbers
Measure at the same time each day
Avoid caffeine, smoking, exercise, and alcohol for 30 minutes before measuring
Follow the device instructions exactly
Compare your readings with your doctor’s target range
Seek medical advice if readings are repeatedly high or low