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How to take home blood pressure readings

27 replies

LadyCastellioni · 10/03/2026 20:31

I’ve got a health check coming up at gp practice and I’m going to do my own blood pressure readings at home and take them in because I have white coat syndrome and my readings are always sky high in a medical setting. I am also very stressed with various stuff in my life currently so that is also a factor.

I was going to do 3 readings and take the average from that (twice a day) but have read that you should just do 3 and take the lowest?

Has anyone done similar? What’s best?

Thank you

OP posts:
LadyCastellioni · 11/03/2026 16:54

Thank you all. Difficult to know what’s best but MsGreying your instructions sound sensible.
I will definitely try and up my exercise and take note of the herbal and vitamin suggestions. Very rarely drink alcohol these days anyway and have never smoked.

OP posts:
Bumply · 11/03/2026 19:55

I take readings at home and they are often high for the first couple and then settle down.

i tend to keep taking them until I get consistent values.

This is just before or after my annual review as I measure high at the GP (they never tell me what my measurements are)

I’ve been on medication for a few years. The first medication I didn’t realise was giving me side effects until I was at the GP and mentioned a need to clear my throat, and they told me it was a known side effect.

They switched me to a different medication and I’ve had no issues since then.

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