Tips to Measure Your Blood Pressure Correctly

Taking blood pressure: Why twice as much is better and what else is important to know.

When American professional societies some time ago lowered the threshold value for high blood pressure to 130 to 80 (previously it was 140 to 80), there was much criticism from colleagues: As a result, millions of people would be treated completely unnecessarily with antihypertensive drugs.

Measuring blood pressure: This is why the second measurement is so important

Especially since an American study has just shown that blood pressure is regularly significantly lower in a second measurement than in the first. It may well be 140 at first and 130 a few minutes later – perhaps because the slight excitement about the test has already subsided by then. The German Hypertension League therefore also recommends that you always take two readings – one minute apart – in any case.

What else must I consider?

Also important if you control your blood pressure yourself: The measuring cuff must be the right width in relation to the thickness of the upper arm. If it is too narrow, the values measured are too high. For this reason, it is essential to seek advice from a specialist dealer when buying the measuring device. And in the case of wrist devices, the hand must not hang down when measuring, but must be held at heart level. Otherwise, the values will probably be displayed too high here as well.