The best time to take your blood pressure reading

Hypertension or High blood pressure if left uncontrolled can lead to severe health-related complications like heart attack and stroke. That’s why people who have a problem of high blood pressure or fluctuating blood pressure need to take their readings at regular intervals to decide the future course of action. People dealing with hypertension often wonder about the ideal time of day to check their readings, and to be honest there is no perfect time as it varies as per your daily schedule. Whether you’re doing it at home or in the doctor’s office, your schedule, your level of physical activity and your meal timing play a great role to get an accurate reading.

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Before taking your blood pressure reading, you should know what is the normal range and what is considered high blood pressure. Blood pressure reading gives two numbers, systolic (the top number) and diastolic (the bottom number). It is measured in millimetres of mercury (mm Hg). As per the American Heart Association, there are five blood pressure categories.

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Normal: Less than 120/80 mm Hg

Elevated: Ranging from 120 to 129 mm Hg systolic and less than 80 mm Hg diastolic.

Hypertension Stage 1: Ranging from 130 to 139 mm Hg systolic or 80 to 89 mm Hg diastolic.

Hypertension Stage 2: Constantly at 140 mm Hg systolic or 90 mm Hg diastolic or higher.

Hypertensive Crisis: Reading that is higher than 180/120 mm Hg. This is a serious condition and requires immediate medical attention.

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If you plan to visit a doctor for your blood pressure reading, then you might be asked to come at different times of the day to get a correct reading. Taking multiple readings helps to evaluate the situation in a better way. Most people now prefer to take the reading at home. It is easy and can be done at any time of the day. Some people even believe that visiting the hospital generally makes them nervous, which is reflected in our blood pressure. So the decision is entirely yours.

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There is no ideal time to take the reading as our blood pressure keeps changing throughout the day. It all depends on what you are doing at that time and if you are following the right steps. Few factors have a severe impact on your blood pressure reading.

Get the reading twice: Our blood pressure is at its lowest in the morning and varies by up to 30 per cent throughout the day. That’s due to hormonal changes, activity level and food. So take the reading twice in a day.

Set a schedule: Setting a schedule means to take the measurement at the same time daily. Fix a routine and follow it.

Take multiple readings at one time: Do not come to conclusion based on one reading. It is always safe to take 2-3 readings at one time to evaluate the average rate.

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Prepare before time for the reading: You cannot just come from a walk and then take your reading. You have to prepare at least 30 minutes before taking the reading. Do not exercise, smoke, drink caffeine, or eat a big meal 30 minutes before taking a reading. All these things can spike your blood pressure.

Sit down comfortably: Sit down or lie down comfortably when taking the reading. Taking the blood pressure when standing can alter the reading. Also, make sure that your hands are positioned properly when taking the reading.

Check the accuracy of the device: Many digital blood pressure machines show different readings. So, it is important to buy the correct blood pressure reader for yourself. You can ask your doctor to recommend one or take the blood pressure machine to the doctor and compare its accuracy against their model.

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