Most people are able to check their blood pressure only when they visit a doctor. However, since high blood pressure is known as the 'silent killer' due to its ability to develop without symptoms and cause serious health problems like heart attack, stroke and kidney problems, it is important to have you blood pressure checked regularly. Contrary to popular belief, everyone should have his or her blood pressure checked and not just those who have been diagnosed of hypertension or high blood pressure, so it is best that each household has a blood pressure monitoring device at home. Getting accurate blood pressure readings take some time and you should learn how to read and log your blood pressure correctly to get accurate results.

The first thing you need to do in getting your blood pressure is to relax and sit down, placing both feet flat on the floor. Make sure you perform the test with an empty bladder. Once you're relaxed, place the cuff around your upper arm snug enough that you can still place one finger through it. Then, you need to place the marker or hose over your brachial artery - the artery located inside the midline of your elbow crease. You would then place the stethoscope in your ears, while putting your left hand in the other end of the stethoscope. Hold the inflation bulb using your other hand and inflate the cuff 30 mmHg higher than the average systolic pressure. Relax your arm and watch the pressure falls to 10-20 mmHg. You should now open the release valve and watch as the pressure drops 10 mmHg after every 3 heartbeats.

In recording your blood pressure, you'll need two values - the pressure that you hear similar to a series of bumps is known as the systolic pressure, while the diastolic pressure is determined when the bumps disappear. Record the two values in your log. If the results indicate you have an elevated blood pressure, make sure to check again after several minutes. If the readings did not fall, you need to seek medical attention or if you already have prescribed medications, take them immediately.

The secret in getting accurate blood pressure readings is practice. The more you get the hang of using your home monitoring device, the more accurate readings you'll be able to get.