Taking Blood Pressure (Cont.)

Taking Blood Pressure Using 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 when taking blood pressure.
 

Suggestions for Taking Blood Pressure

The following are some suggestions to consider when the doctor is taking your blood pressure:
 
  • Don't drink coffee or smoke cigarettes 30 minutes before having your blood pressure measured.
  • Wear short sleeves so your arm is exposed.
  • 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.
  • 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 as opposed to vague terms like "a little high."
     
(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