High blood pressure (hypertension)

SECTION 3

How is high blood pressure diagnosed?

High blood pressure is usually diagnosed from repeated, properly measured readings. Your care team may use measurements from office visits, home monitoring, or a wearable blood pressure cuff.

Why are repeated measurements important?

Blood pressure changes throughout the day. Stress, pain, exercise, caffeine, and measurement technique can affect an individual reading.

Your care team reviews the pattern of readings rather than relying on one routine measurement.

Measuring at home

Use a validated automatic upper-arm monitor with a cuff that fits your arm. Bring it to an appointment so your care team can check its accuracy and your technique.

For a reliable reading:

• Avoid smoking, caffeine, and exercise for 30 minutes beforehand.
• Empty your bladder.
• Sit quietly for at least five minutes.
• Keep your back supported, feet flat, and legs uncrossed.
• Place the cuff on bare skin and support your arm at heart level.
• Do not talk during the measurement.
• Take two readings, one minute apart, and record both.

Ask your care team when and how often to measure. Bring your readings to follow-up visits.

Office and home readings may differ

White-coat hypertension means readings are high in the office but normal outside it.

Masked hypertension means readings appear normal in the office but are high at home.

Home measurements help identify these patterns. Sometimes your clinician recommends 24-hour ambulatory monitoring: a cuff you wear that automatically measures blood pressure during daily activities and sleep.

Will I need other tests?

Your clinician may order blood and urine tests to check kidney function, electrolytes, and other health risks. An EKG or additional testing may be appropriate to assess effects on the heart or investigate a possible underlying cause.

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, your care team will explain your blood pressure goal and treatment plan.