Table 7 Recommendations of home BP measurement of 2017 ACC/AHA Blood Pressure Treatment Guideline

Patient training should occur under medical supervision

Information about hypertension, selection of prompt equipment, acknowledgement that individual BP readings may vary substantially, and interpretation of measurement results

Device for BP measurement

Use of validated automated devices

Use of auscultatory devices is not generally useful for HBPM

Use of appropriate cuff size to fit the arm

Verify that right/left inter-arm BP differences are insignificant. If BP differences are significant (> 10 mmHg), instruct patient to measure BP in the arm with higher BP readings

Instructions on HBPM procedures

Avoid smoking, caffeine beverages, or exercise within 30 min before BP measurement

Ensure more than 5 min of quiet resting before BP measurement

Sit with back straight and supported on a straight-backed chair

Sit with feet flat on the floor with legs uncrossed

Keep arm supported on a flat surface with the upper arm at heart level

Place the cuff directly above the antecubital fossa with bend of the elbow

BP measurement at least two times 1 min apart before taking antihypertensive medications in the morning and twice before supper in evening

Record all readings accurately, BP should be based on an average of readings on more than two occasions for clinical decision making