What you can expect

During the procedure

Usually, a nurse or technician takes your blood pressure while you are seated in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.

You rest your arm on a table at the level of your heart.

The blood pressure cuff is wrapped around the top part of your arm. The bottom of the cuff is just above your elbow. It's important that the cuff fits. Readings can vary if the cuff is too big or too small.

• For a manual blood pressure measurement, the nurse or technician places a stethoscope over the major artery in your upper arm (brachial artery) to listen to blood flow.
• The cuff is inflated with a small hand pump.
• As the cuff inflates, it squeezes your arm. Blood flow through the artery stops for a moment.
• The nurse or technician opens a valve on the hand pump to slowly release the air in the cuff and restore blood flow. He or she continues to listen to blood flow and pulse and records your blood pressure.

Some blood pressure cuffs automatically inflate and measure your pulse. In this case, a stethoscope is not needed.

It takes about one minute to get a blood pressure measurement.

After the procedure

If your blood pressure is high or low, you'll need to have at least three more blood pressure tests, spaced at least a week apart, to determine if you need treatment. Blood pressure can vary from moment to moment and day to day.