Blood Pressure Resources

High blood pressure, also known as HBP or hypertension, occurs when the pressure of your blood is consistently too high against the walls of your blood vessels and arteries. Nicknamed "the silent killer", high blood pressure usually shows no symptoms, yet it can lead to life-threatening conditions like heart attack or stroke. That's why preventative care is essential.¹ 

There are controllable and uncontrollable risk factors.²

Controllable:

• Smoking
• Diabetes 
• Being overweight
• High cholesterol 
• Unhealthy diet
• Lack of physical activity

Uncontrollable:

• Family history
• Race/ethnicity
• Age
• Gender

Some other, harder to manage factors include chronic kidney disease and obstructive sleep apnea. 

• At your primary care provider's office
• At a pharmacy that has a digital blood pressure machine
• At home with a blood pressure monitor you use yourself

There are many home blood pressure monitors to choose from that can be purchased at a local pharmacy, medical supply store or online.

Your health care provider may recommend a certain type of blood pressure monitor. If you are unsure, the American Heart Association recommends an automatic, upper arm blood pressure cuff.

Follow these tips to help ensure you get an accurate reading.

Before Your Reading:

• Don’t smoke, exercise, eat or drink anything for 30 minutes 
• Empty your bladder 
• Sit in a comfortable chair with your back supported for at least 5 minutes

During Your Reading:

• Put both feet flat on the ground and keep your legs uncrossed
• Rest your arm comfortably on a flat surface at heart level
• Place the cuff on bare skin with the bottom of the cuff above the bend of your elbow
• Make sure the blood pressure cuff is snug but not too tight
• Do not talk while your blood pressure is being measured

American Heart Association's Blood Pressure Measurement Instructions

Going to the doctor can be stressful and lead to a false elevated reading. Plus, a single blood pressure measurement only tells what your blood pressure is at that moment. Keeping a record of your readings can provide a more complete picture over time and help ensure your treatment plan is working.

To keep track of your measurements, write them down on a piece of paper and store it in a place you'll remember. The American Heart Association has a free blood pressure log you can print and use at home. There are also apps you can download to your smart device that allow you to record, track and analyze trends in blood pressure measurements. Some also allow you to share the data with your health care team.