How to check blood pressure

Maintaining an optimal blood pressure is imperative for optimizing your cardiovascular and brain health. Good blood pressure is less than 130/80, with ideal blood pressure being less than 120/80. For folks age 65+, we should be a bit more lenient and allow up to 140/90 (although this goal can vary based on an individual’s health so please speak to your doctor).

Always use an arm cuff and not a wrist cuff. Arm cuffs are much more accurate.

You should take your blood pressure twice daily for a week to get a good pattern of readings. Be consistent with the time of day. In the morning, take 30-60 min after waking. In the evening, take it an hour or so after dinner.

How to check your blood pressure properly: 
- Empty your bladder then rest quietly for 5 minutes before checking
- No tobacco/caffeine/exercise within 30 minutes of checking
- See the red graphic here for ideal measurement and positioning

Which blood pressure cuff do we recommend?: OMRON is a brand that has been studied independently for accuracy. It is also cost-effective, usually coming in around $35-50 for the bronze or silver models.