Dryden Pharmacy offers a blood pressure monitoring service for its patients. It is a great way to monitor the effectiveness of blood pressure medications.  Recording your readings and taking them to your doctor’s office is a great way for the family doctor to monitor pressure changes that may occur between office visits.
Tips to take a good blood pressure reading
- Measure your blood pressure ONLY when you are relaxed. Do NOT measure your blood pressure if you are sick or stressed
- Measure your blood pressure after your bowels and bladder are emptied
- Wait two hours after eating a large meal before you take your blood pressure
- Wait 30 minutes after drinking caffeinated beverages and smoking before you take your blood pressure
- Take your blood pressure in the morning and evening before your blood pressure medications
- Sit in a chair that supports your back and sit beside a table that supports your arm
- Your arm should be positioned so the center of the cuff is at heart level
- Keep your feet flat on the floor
- The cuff should be placed against your skin and not a sleeve
- Rest for 5 minutes prior to taking a reading
- Take two readings approximately 1-2 minutes apart
- Record your readings