Taking your blood pressure at home

In some people, it turns out that blood pressure at home is much lower than when measured at the practice. And because blood pressure can change in any situation, 1 measurement at the GP's office is not useful. If you want to be sure that blood pressure, on average, is good, then measuring at home is the fairest measurement. With home measurements, we can then better estimate what your average blood pressure is.

Even if you are on medication for high blood pressure, you will then only need to come to the practice for check-ups once a year. Then try to maintain a healthy lifestyle and keep taking your medication to keep your blood pressure good. In the meantime, you can measure your blood pressure at home once a month, so you can see for yourself whether the medication is working properly.

How do I measure my blood pressure?

To measure your blood pressure, it is good to practise this beforehand. Measure twice a day: in the morning and in the evening, and from half an hour before the measurement make sure you do not exert yourself, do not smoke and do not drink coffee.

• Sit on a high chair, upright with your legs side by side.
• Sit quietly for at least 5 minutes, without talking.
• Then measure your blood pressure.
• Always write down what you measured: the upper pressure and the lower pressure.
• Measure blood pressure again after 2 minutes. Again record the upper and lower pressures.

Do this every morning and evening for 5 days. Each time, record the day, time of day, upper and lower pressures. It is normal if the blood pressure is higher some times than other times.

Blood pressure at home is often lower than at your GP's (on average 5 points lower). In some people, even very much lower. For example, if you are tense at the GP, sometimes without noticing it yourself.