Measurement Protocol

An organized reading log gives physicians longitudinal information instead of isolated measurements. The recommended protocol is three consecutive readings spaced one minute apart. The second and third readings should be averaged and recorded. When medication need is being evaluated, three checks per day for about two weeks can provide useful data. The first reading should be discarded because it may reflect initial reactivity to cuff inflation. Obsessive checking can be counterproductive because cuff inflation and anxiety can distort readings.