Blood Pressure: Find Out ‘Tips’ on How to Measure the Right Way

High Blood Pressure, a commonly growing concern in today’s era. Alternatively termed as Hypertension, a major chunk of the public in India has been affected by it – contributing to a large number of deaths annually. It’s a leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases like heart disease and stroke.

Close to 25% of India’s population (especially citizens in urban areas) suffers from high blood pressure related issues. As native Indians, there is often a habit of measuring the BP in their households using the device readily available off the medical stores. But are you doing it right? More often than not, people aren’t aware of the correct way to calculate and check the readings. Dr Dmitry Yaranov, MD, a highly renowned cardiologist has highlighted the common mistakes people make while checking their blood pressure and shared the correct manner to check it, with some useful tips.

The cardiologist warned, “You’re not checking your blood pressure — you’re just watching numbers change. I say this with love — but most people do it wrong. Legs crossed. Talking. Cuff over clothing. Wrong size. No rest. Then they panic when the numbers are ‘high’.” Here are the tips shared by Dr. Yaranov.

How to Check your BP?

The cardiologist has listed 8 things to keep in mind when you sit down to check your blood pressure:

1. Sit in a chair, back supported, feet flat on the floor.
2. Rest for 5 minutes before checking.
3. Keep your arm at heart level, on a table.
4. No talking or texting during the reading.
5. Use the correct cuff size — not too small, not too big.
6. Take 2–3 readings, 1 minute apart.
7. Write it down or use your device’s memory.
8. Bring your cuff to your next doctor’s visit — let them validate it.

• Dr. Yaranov further opined that one must not take a reading right after a workout, argument, or espresso under ANY circumstance, as the readings during such a siting are not figures of your blood pressure but pure adrenaline and hence come under incorrect reading category.
• One must not guess, not overthink or over search for information on google and not make presumptive calculations – just measure accurately as per the instructions mentioned above.

Blood Pressure Level

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, here are the blood pressure levels you need to keep in mind:

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute states that your blood pressures are written as two numbers separated by a slash: the first number is your systolic pressure, and the second number is your diastolic pressure. As indicative in the table, an optimum range is one where it states slightly below or near about 120/80.