Blood Pressure

If you have raised, or borderline, blood pressure we encourage to check your blood pressure readings at home if possible. Research suggests that an average of four to seven days of home readings give a more accurate picture of your blood pressure than office readings. If you would prefer not to check your blood pressure at home then please come in to either our 19 Beaumont Street or Elms Road sites where we have blood pressure monitors in our waiting area that are available for use during opening hours - please give the print out of the reading to one of the reception team, ensuring it has your name on. If you are unable to do home readings or use the self check machines please contact our reception team to arrange an appointment for a blood pressure check. If indicated we can arrange ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (wearing a small monitor for 24 hours).

Choosing a monitor

Aa list of recommended monitors can be found here, prices start from around £20. We would advise an upper arm monitor. It is important to ensure you have the correct cuff size for your arm – more information on this can be found here.

How to measure your blood pressure

Detailed advice on how to measure your blood pressure should come with your monitor, or can be found here here. In summary we recommend that your check your blood pressure seated, and that you rest for 5 minutes before taking the readings. Take 3 readings and record the lowest.  If you have time then we would encourage you to do this twice a day for four days, seven if possible. Unless we specifically advise you otherwise, we would suggest doing this very six months.

How to send us the results

You can email your results to admin.nbs@nhs.net. If possible please complete one of these forms:

Home Blood Pressure Monitor Readings

What will happen next

If your blood pressure readings are outside the normal range they will be passed to one of our clinicians who will contact you if necessary.  Otherwise please repeat it in 6 months unless a clinician advises differently.

For most people  aged under 80 the recommendation is for blood pressure to be below 140/90  if measured in a clinic setting, or below 135/85  if measured at home. For people age 80 and over the recommendation is for blood pressure to be below 150/90 if measured in a clinic setting, or below 145/85 if measured at home. Your clinician may advise a lower target blood pressure, particularly if you have kidney disease.

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