Many people don’t measure their blood pressure properly at home – here’s how to get accurate readings

By measuring your blood pressure at home, you can take measurements over several days to get a better picture of your health, instead of having to take one-off measurements at the doctor’s office.

It is important that you follow certain steps to get an accurate reading.

However, our study found that most Australians are not measuring their blood pressure properly at home and very few have been told the steps to follow.

We’ve created resources to help people measure their blood pressure at home, understand their readings, and take action with their healthcare team.

High blood pressure is a big problem

High blood pressure is a major health problem in Australia and worldwide.

One in three Australian adults suffers from high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. This is if your blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg or higher (mmHg refers to millimeters of mercury, a standard measurement of blood pressure).

High blood pressure is the leading cause of preventable health problems and early death in Australians, as it is the leading risk factor for heart disease, stroke, dementia and kidney disease.

Why measuring blood pressure is important

High blood pressure often causes no symptoms. So the only way to know if you have it is to measure it.

You may also need to check to see if your blood pressure has gone down after you start taking medication or make any changes to your lifestyle, such as: B. do more exercise, stop smoking or reduce your salt intake. Low blood pressure (hypotension) can also be a problem.

But blood pressure changes depending on how we feel, what we’ve eaten, or what activity we’ve just done.

These normal responses mean that our blood pressure can change from minute to minute and hour to hour. For this reason, there are specific, recommended steps you should follow to reliably measure your blood pressure and compare readings taken days, months, and years apart.

Errors occur frequently

We surveyed and interviewed 350 people (all of whom measured their blood pressure at home) from across Australia to find out how Australians measure their blood pressure at home and whether they receive training to help them know what to do.

Our study found that no one followed all of the specific, recommended steps for measuring their blood pressure. Instead, they said they measured their blood pressure at different times of the day after doing different things.

We found that most people measured their blood pressure while sitting (90%) and with the cuff on their bare arm (77%), which is the correct procedure.

While 58% of people took two blood pressure readings each time, which is correct, only 40% used the average of the two blood pressure readings. Very few (15%) measured their blood pressure in both the morning and evening over several days.

Only half of the people in our study used a clinically validated blood pressure monitor. This means that the device has been tested by the manufacturer according to international standards for accuracy and not just safety.

Advice and communication

Regardless of whether a doctor recommended measuring blood pressure at home, most people (78%) reported their blood pressure readings to their doctor.

These results show us that doctors often use home blood pressure measurement to diagnose and treat hypertension. This highlights the importance of ensuring people measure blood pressure correctly.

Many people measured their blood pressure several times a week or month. However, most guidelines recommend measuring blood pressure only at home: every day for a week, every six months; and ideally before you see your doctor and after you start or change your blood pressure medication.

Measuring blood pressure at home can be reassuring, which many study participants described. However, measuring your blood pressure too frequently can cause unnecessary stress and potentially lead to higher blood pressure readings.

Instead, it’s better to agree with your doctor how often you should measure your blood pressure and follow the recommended steps each time to ensure your readings are as accurate and useful as possible.

Support for blood pressure measurement

We found that few people were educated or advised by healthcare professionals about how to measure their blood pressure at home.

Instead, many study participants searched for information online to find out what their blood pressure readings meant and what changes they could make to lower their blood pressure. They were less interested in learning how to measure accurately.

That’s why we worked with people who measure and manage their blood pressure at home to create a simple guide to help you choose a blood pressure monitor, measure your blood pressure accurately, understand your blood pressure levels, and take steps to control your blood pressure .

For more information about controlling blood pressure at home, see our resources. You can also check whether your blood pressure monitor has been tested for accuracy.