Sit quietly for 5 minutes before measuring
Avoid caffeine, smoking, and exercise for 30 minutes before measuring
Empty your bladder before measuring
Sit with your back supported and feet flat on the floor
Keep your legs uncrossed
Rest your arm on a flat surface at heart level
Place the cuff on bare skin, not over clothing
Wrap the cuff snugly around the upper arm
Position the bottom edge of the cuff about 1 inch above the elbow crease
Align the cuff’s artery marker with the inside of the arm if present
Turn on the blood pressure monitor
Stay still and do not talk during the reading
Wait for the cuff to inflate and deflate automatically
Record the systolic and diastolic numbers and pulse if shown
Take 2 readings, 1 minute apart, and average them if needed
Use the same arm each time unless a clinician tells you otherwise
Measure at the same time each day for consistent results
Check the cuff size if readings seem inaccurate
Clean the cuff according to the manufacturer’s instructions