Tool / wearable
Home Blood-Pressure Cuff
Last updated Sat May 30 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Why home BP measurement matters
Single office BP readings are systematically biased upward ("white-coat effect") in ~20% of patients and downward ("masked hypertension") in another ~10%. Home or 24-hour ambulatory BP correlates much better with cardiovascular outcomes.
Choosing a cuff
- Upper-arm — not wrist (wrist devices are less accurate at the brachial artery analog).
- Validated: check stridebp.org or validatebp.org for clinical validation data on specific models.
- Right size: arm circumference must match cuff range; adult-large cuffs are common.
- Bluetooth/app sync is convenient but not essential.
Measurement protocol
For meaningful trends:
- Sit quietly 5 minutes before measurement.
- Feet flat on floor, back supported, arm at heart level.
- Empty bladder.
- No caffeine, exercise, smoking for 30 min prior.
- Take 2–3 readings, 1 minute apart; record the average of the last two.
- Measure morning and evening for a week to establish baseline.
Targets
See hypertension and blood pressure entries for current target guidance. Generally <130/80 home average for most adults.