Food and activity that support blood pressure
Choose varied foods and reduce salt and processed foods. Activity, weight management, and stopping smoking support heart health.
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Choose more vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and beans, and reduce salty processed foods. Compare sodium on labels and use herbs or spices for flavour. Regular activity, weight management when appropriate, and stopping smoking support heart health alongside prescribed blood-pressure treatment.
Before measuring at home
Use a suitable cuff. Avoid smoking, caffeine, and exercise for 30 minutes, empty your bladder, and rest at least five minutes.
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Use a validated upper-arm monitor with a cuff that fits, and ask the clinic to check your technique. Avoid smoking, caffeine, and exercise for 30 minutes beforehand, and empty your bladder. Rest quietly for at least five minutes. Place the cuff on bare skin.
Position, readings, and recording
Support back and arm at heart level, with feet flat. Stay quiet, take two readings one minute apart, and record both.
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Support your back, keep feet flat and legs uncrossed, and support your arm with the cuff at heart level. Stay quiet during measurement. Take two readings one minute apart and record both with the time. Agree a checking schedule and bring your record and monitor to review.
Keeping treatment consistent
Follow your prescription and report dizziness or troublesome effects. Check with a pharmacist before cold remedies, painkillers, or supplements.
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Take blood-pressure medicines as prescribed, even when readings improve or you feel well. Do not change doses in response to one reading. Report dizziness or other troublesome effects, and check with a pharmacist before cold remedies, painkillers, or supplements because some affect pressure or treatment.