Blood Pressure Test (Cont.)

Blood Pressure Test: Other Devices

Some blood pressure testing devices use electronic instruments or digital readouts. In these cases, the blood pressure reading appears on a small screen or is signaled in beeps, and no stethoscope is used.
 

Blood Pressure Test Suggestions

The following are some suggestions to consider for your blood pressure test:
 
  • Don't drink coffee or smoke cigarettes 30 minutes before having your blood pressure measured.
     
  • Before the test, sit for five minutes with your back supported and your feet flat on the ground. Rest your arm on a table at the level of your heart.
     
  • Wear short sleeves so your arm is exposed.
     
  • Go to the bathroom prior to the reading. A full bladder can change your blood pressure reading.
     
  • Get two readings -- taken at least two minutes apart -- and average the results.
     
  • Ask the doctor or nurse to tell you the blood pressure reading in numbers.
     
(Click Blood Pressure Numbers to learn what the blood pressure readings mean.)
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD