Just got put on high blood pressure pills, small dose, 5 MG, now have to check blood pressure

[a kennedy]

daily…….not sure if I’m doing the cuff around my arm right…..anyone else have trouble starting off?? Thanks.

[multigraincracker]

1. I'm on BP meds and the only problem for me was

getting the dose right Have one of the auto cuffs, does not require a stethoscope. Always worried about getting it too tight or too loose, turns out it's not that important.
My biggest problem was a dose that was way too high and it made me dizzy when I stood up.
Have you cut out salt, lost some weight and exercise? That is the way to go. Meditation works too.

[Hope22]

2. This video may help.

My best to you. Take care! 💗🙏

[Hope22]

3. One thing I will add...

Keep the cuff plenty loose as you bring it up the arm. After the cuff is in place don’t twist it unless it is still very loose. The hose will run down the inside bend of your arm as the video shows.

[FloridaBlues]

4. Try the wrist cuff much easier. They sell them in all drug stores

You have to hold arm still while taking B/P.

[underpants]

5. Yep. Very easy to use.

[woodsprite]

6. Sit in a normal chair, feet flat, no crossed ankles

Or dangling legs, back supported, arm should be supported near heart level. If your upper arm measures more than 35cm, use a large cuff - not the standard. Don’t let them take your bp through your clothing if you can help it.

I swear 90+% of the drs offices I go in take it wrong.

All of those recommendations come from the American. Heart Assoc. Ive paid close attention ever since my ObGyn read the riot act to the hospital staff when I went in to have my son. They were going to rush me into an emergency c-section because my numbers were too high. They were using the wrong cuff.

It all makes a difference.

Best of luck! I’m currently on Lisinopril 40mg and Amlodipine 10mg daily but that may be reduced soon. I’m doing 30 min of walking 5x a week and weight/resistance exercises 2x wk since mid-January. My numbers have been coming down slowly.

[Gore1FL]

7. Five Mega Gravities sounds like a lot of medicine!

(I make the same joke at the pharmacy who use MG instead of mg on their labels.)

To answer your question, I have a write and an arm cuff and am not specifically confident in either. I go with the "this is generally what the numbers are" approach and assume the errors will be consistent with each reading.

[Karadeniz]

8. No more salt for you!!! Also, make sure any allergy or cold medicine you take says it's okay for

people with high blood pressure....

[Lunabell]

9. If you are taking lisinopril or other ace inhibitors,

they sometimes cause a cough which is indicative of an allergy. It happened to me. Just a dry hacking cough. Let your doctor know if this happens.

[a kennedy]

10. Sorry, not familiar with all the new blood pressure lingo, is lisinopril or ace inhibitors

blood pressure medicine?? Mine is called Amlodipine Besylate. I already have a cough from years of smoking…….won’t be able to tell if my cough increases or not, or will I??

[Lunabell]

12. That one is ok.

It's not an ace inhibitor. That is a calcium channel blocker. Works in a different way. Good luck!

[a kennedy]

13. Thank you, I am just so new to all this high blood pressure stuff.......

[Warpy]

11. There should be markings on the inside of the cuff

where the pickups are. Most of the ones I've used have a couple of arrows, you'll want those pointing down toward your hand. The cuff goes on the upper arm, arrows down and pointing to the inner part of your elbow joint and next to your skin. They're not really that fussy when you get the idea.

If you're still struggling, call your doc's office and ask if you can come in so one of the techs can show you how it goes.