Download Article Show Download Article Your blood pressure measure the force your blood exerts on the sides of the blood vessels as it moves around your body and is an important indicator of your health. Blood pressure monitoring should be done with a cuff and a stethoscope — instruments that most people do not have at home, but are necessary for an accurate reading. If you want to check if your systolic blood pressure (the pressure inside your arteries when your heart is pumping) is normal, you can use your pulse for a rough estimate. Diastolic blood pressure (the pressure inside your arteries when your heart is resting between beats) must always be done with an arm cuff or stethoscope.[1]
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Advertisement Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement ReferencesAbout This ArticleArticle SummaryX Although you can’t accurately check your blood pressure without a cuff, you can estimate whether your blood pressure is below or above 80 by taking your pulse. Place two fingers on your wrist and check for a pulse. If you feel a pulse, this means that your systolic measurement is probably above 80, since a lower blood pressure wouldn’t reach the artery in your wrist. Your systolic measurement reflects the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats. Even if you can’t feel a pulse, this doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with your blood pressure. You should also take your pulse again after moderate activity to see if it's increased. If you don’t have a detectable pulse after moderate activity, there is a chance you could have low blood pressure. However, the only way to test for sure is with a cuff. For more tips, including how to improve your blood pressure, read on. Did this summary help you? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 113,398 times. Did this article help you?How can I check my blood pressure without a machine?Place your index and middle finger of your hand on the inner wrist of the other arm, just below the base of the thumb. You should feel a tapping or pulsing against your fingers. Count the number of taps you feel in 10 seconds. Multiply that number by 6 to find out your heart-rate for one minute.
Is finger blood pressure accurate?Whereas 95% of all comparisons between finger cuff and intra-arterial measurement had a discrepancy < or = +/- 10 mm Hg, 4.7% had a discrepancy between +/- 10.1 to 15 mm Hg and 0.3% exhibited a discrepancy > +/- 15 mm Hg.
What is the rule of thumb for blood pressure?Experts don't always agree on what a perfect blood pressure reading is, but the general rule of thumb is that the upper number (the systolic) should be around 120 and the lower number (the diastolic) should be around 80.
How do u calculate blood pressure?First, a health care professional wraps an inflatable cuff around your arm. The health care professional then inflates the cuff, which gently tightens on your arm. The cuff has a gauge on it that will measure your blood pressure.
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