Reading Your Readings

Do you know how to read your blood pressure readings? Oftentimes, Dr. Munjal does not need to know the exact details of each reading you take. We want to know what the average reading is, or what the numbers look like more than 50% of the time. This answer can sound something like this: “Most of my readings are in the 130s/80s. I have had a few high readings, but they are few and far between.” Let’s learn how we can get our average and read our readings more accurately.

The Reading:
Systolic:This is the number on the top of the reading. It is the pressure inside your arteries when the heart is pumping/contracting, at the time of the heartbeat.
Diastolic: This is the number on the bottom of the reading. It is the pressure inside your arteries when the heart is filling, between the heartbeats. For most people, the diastolic is normally ½ to ⅔ of the systolic.
Generally, when we talk about your blood pressure, we look at the systolic number, or top number of the reading. That’s not to say that the bottom number is not important. However, when you can work with and control the top number, the bottom number will tend to follow. For example, if a reading or goal is referenced as “130s,” we mean the systolic reading.

When to Take Your Reading:
To get your “normal” reading and the most accurate results, it needs to be taken in “normal” circumstances. You should take your blood pressure when:

• It has been 1-2 hours AFTER any blood pressure medication has been taken. This will help us evaluate how effective your medication regimen is.
• You are in a seated position with your legs uncrossed and feet flat on the ground.
• You are most relaxed. If you were just up and moving, driving, in a stressful situation, eating, or exercising, do some deep breathing and wait a minimum of 10 minutes before taking a reading. 

Finding an Average: 
There are occasions when you may be asked for an average of your readings. This can be done by adding a minimum of 2 readings together and dividing by the number of readings used. Here’s an example: 
Reading 1: 125/72
Reading 2: 137/80
Reading 3: 117/70
Added together (379/222) and divide each number by 3, the number of readings we are averaging.
Average: 126/74

Trend line:
Another way to view your blood pressure readings is on a graph. Some tracking programs, like Remote Patient Monitoring, can provide the graph for you. Once your blood pressure readings are drawn out, you can draw a line to find the trend of your blood pressure. This line should essentially go through the middle of your readings. A trend line is a great visualization of what your blood pressure looks like over time. 

While those high or low readings are important, knowing how to read your readings and find a trend is important in the big picture of things. For more information on blood pressure, you can click here to be directed to our hypertension page. As always, stay safe and healthy!

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