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**Patients should spend at least 5 minutes resting quietly before their blood pressure measurement!**

**All of these things can affect the outcome of a blood pressure measurement!**

Placing the cuff over clothing can add 5–50 mg Hg to a blood pressure measurement.

**Always put the cuff on the patient's bare arm!**

The proper arm cuff inflation is 76%—100%!

Automatic cuffs are more likely to result in an accurate blood pressure reading!

Drinking water and taking prescribed blood pressure medication is fine, and using the restroom before a blood pressure measurement is actually encouraged!

**Patients should avoid exercising before a blood pressure measurement!**

120/80 is considered a perfect blood pressure reading. Any systolic number above 120 is considered "high," and any systolic number at 110 or lower is considered "low" blood pressure.

**116/72 is within the "normal" range for a blood pressure measurement.**

The _diastolic_ number represents the amount of pressure in your arteries in between heartbeats.

**The systolic number represents the pressure a patient's heart exerts against your artery walls while beating.**

**It's both arms! During a patient's first visit, you should measure their blood pressure in both arms to ensure an accurate reading.**

**Results should be given to the patient both verbally _and_ in writing!**

**It's best to take dual blood pressure measurements spaced 2 minutes apart, then average the results to get an accurate reading!**

**The patient's arm should rest comfortably on a table at heart level to ensure an accurate measurement!**

Visit [TargetBP.org/AccurateBPMatters](http://TargetBP.org/AccurateBPMatters) to take the AMA/AHA BP Measurement e-Learning course today and earn 0.5 Continuing Education (CE) credits.

Remember: These are basic blood pressure measurement techniques. Visit [TargetBP.org/AccurateBPMatters](http://TargetBP.org/AccurateBPMatters) to take the advanced AMA/AHA BP Measurement e-Learning course, which includes additional information on manual, semi-automated, and automated BP measurement devices.

Information provided by the American Medical Association (AMA) and American Heart Association (AHA).

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Test Your BP IQ

Visit TargetBP.org/AccurateBPMatters to launch the advanced BP measurement e-Learning course and earn CE credit.

Test Your BP IQ

Visit TargetBP.org/AccurateBPMatters to launch the advanced BP measurement e-Learning course and earn CE credit.

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