Home blood pressure checks: how they work and what the NHS says

What does a blood pressure check show?

The NHS says a blood pressure test can check whether blood pressure is too high or too low. High blood pressure does not usually have any symptoms. Readings are given as two numbers, for example 140/90, measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).

Can people check at home?

The NHS says blood pressure can also be checked at home with a monitor. NHS England has a programme of home blood pressure monitoring through GP practices. The NHS says blood pressure is usually considered high at a lower figure when checked at home than when checked by a healthcare professional.

How is a home reading usually taken?

Local NHS guides recommend an upper arm monitor with a cuff that fits snugly, and say that wrist devices are not recommended. Guides describe sitting quietly for about five minutes with feet flat and the back supported, and avoiding caffeine, smoking and exercise for about 30 minutes beforehand. Guides often suggest taking readings twice in the morning and twice in the evening for about a week, with the average worked out afterwards, although the number of readings differs between guides. Guides advise leaving about a minute between two readings, and the GP or nurse advises on timing around medicines because guides differ. One guide recommends choosing a monitor validated by the British and Irish Hypertension Society.

What happens next?

One NHS integrated care board page says the GP or nurse advises how often to check. Blood Pressure UK advises re-checking after resting for five minutes if a reading is still high. The NHS advises calling 999 for possible heart attack symptoms such as chest pain with sweating or breathlessness, and contacting NHS 111 about frequent headaches, blurred vision or chest pain that comes and goes; the British Heart Foundation advises contacting a GP about symptoms that could be caused by high blood pressure.