18/12/2023
*HOW TO MEASURE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE*
*PREPARING TO CHECK YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE*
There are key instructions you may need to adhere to before checking your blood pressure. These instructions include;
1. *Avoid eating, exercising, smoking, alcohol and caffeine at least 30 minutes before measuring your blood pressure.*
2. *Wear loose-fitting short- sleeve clothes* so that you can push up the shirt while checking your blood pressure
3. *Relax for 5 minutes before the check*
4. *Ensure the use of appropriate cuff sizes* which should cover 2/3 of your arm and about a finger breath(2cm) from the elbow
5. *Ensure that your arm is resting on a table* and at same level as your heart
*TWO METHODS TO CHECK BLOOD PRESSURE*
There are two ways of checking your blood pressure. They are the manual method during which a trained medical personnel uses stethoscope and Mercury sphygmomanometer or aneroid sphygmomanometer to check the blood pressure and the digital blood pressure method which uses digital blood pressure monitor which can be operated by anyone with simple straightforward guidance.
*HOW TO CHECK YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE WITH A BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR*
STEP 1: sit up with your back against the chair, your feet uncrossed and flat on the surface and rest your arm on the table. Relax for 5 minutes before starting.
STEP 2: Place the appropriate arm cuff just 2cm above the elbow. Stay still avoiding talking, eating, laughing and moving while the reading is going on. Take two to three readings about 2 minutes apart and calculate the average.
STEP 3: Take record of your readings as your doctor may require them to assess your health status and guide your treatment
