Here are my top tips for measuring your blood pressure at home. See here for the Blood Pressure Association guidance.
1. Remember that home measurement is not for everyone. For some people it may prove helpful to them (and indeed their GP) to take some measurements outside of a clinical setting (which can make some people anxious). For others it may just make them more worried about their BP.
2. Find the right monitor for you. There is a list of clinically approved monitors here. Martin Roth has a good selection of reviews on his site.
3. Find out what's normal here (note this is only a guide - your GP is always the best source for advice).
4. Read the instructions, and follow them (it's so tempting with a new gadget just to start using it straightaway). If you don't, you may get inaccurate measurements. There are some tips on using a home monitor on the Blood Pressure Association site, here.
5. Take measurements at the same time of the day. Blood pressure varies - this isn't just because external stresses change, but is also a natural body rhythm thing - see here for a line graph.
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