Taking your blood pressure daily can be great way to monitor your health. If you’re planning to start monitoring at home, it’s important to be as accurate as possible.
One of the best ways to get an accurate blood pressure reading is to measure at the same time each day. The right time of day will depend on you and your schedule.
Learn how and when to check your blood pressure, along with other tips for best practices.
When should you check your blood pressure?
Your blood pressure changes throughout the day. Generally, it will be lowest when you first wake up and will get higher as you do daily activities.
Since your blood pressure changes throughout the day, it’s a good idea to take it at least twice. Taking your blood pressure multiple times throughout the day ensures you’re getting an accurate reading.
Choosing times that work for you
The best times of day to take your blood pressure depend on you and your daily routine. It’s important to pick times that you can stick to every day.
Taking your blood pressure at the same time each day is key to understanding your blood pressure. It can help make sure that the readings you take aren’t affected by the events of your day.
You can select times when you know you’ll be home and are unlikely to be interrupted. For example, you could check your blood pressure before you leave for work, when you get home from work, and before bed.