If you’re using a home blood pressure monitor, it’s important to keep it calibrated to ensure accuracy. Here’s how to do it:
- Turn on the monitor and attach the cuff to your arm, making sure the cuff’s air tube is not kinked.
- Press the “Start” or “On” button, and wait for the monitor to inflate the cuff and take your blood pressure reading.
- Compare the reading on the monitor to your own blood pressure reading, taken with a mercury sphygmomanometer. If the readings are within 5 mmHg of each other, your monitor is accurate and doesn’t need to be calibrated. If the readings differ by more than 5 mmHg, you’ll need to calibrate your monitor.
- To calibrate your monitor, you’ll need a systolic calibration device. These are available from most medical supply stores. Attach the device to your monitor according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Place the cuff on your arm and press the “Start” or “On” button. The monitor will inflate the cuff and take your blood pressure reading. Compare the reading on the monitor to the reading on the systolic calibration device. If the readings are within 5 mmHg of each other, your monitor is accurate and doesn’t need to be calibrated. If the readings differ by more than 5 mmHg, you’ll need to adjust the monitor according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Once you’ve calibrated your monitor, you can use it with confidence, knowing that it’s giving you accurate readings.
Calibrating your blood pressure monitor is a simple process that only takes a few minutes. By doing it regularly, you can be sure that your monitor is giving you accurate readings.