The 7-day plan
The American Medical Association's guide for self-measured blood pressure recommends 7 days of home readings, at least 3 days, taken in the morning and evening with at least two readings each time. Your doctor then averages all the readings and uses that average to make decisions. This log is laid out for exactly that.
How to fill it in
- Start on any day. Set it as the first day before printing so the dates are filled in.
- Each morning and evening, rest for 5 minutes, then take two readings a minute apart.
- Write the time, both readings and your pulse.
- On the last day, add up all the top numbers and all the bottom numbers separately, and divide each by the number of readings. Write the result in the 7-day average box. The average calculator does it for you.
- Bring the page to your appointment.
Not medical advice. This log is a place to write down your readings. Your target, how often to measure and your treatment come from your doctor.
Questions
Why 7 days?
More readings give a more reliable average. The AMA recommends 7 days of home readings, and at least 3.
What if I miss a reading?
Leave the box empty and carry on. The average uses only the readings you took.
Do I include the first reading of each pair?
Yes. Write both readings down and include both in the average.
When should I do the 7-day check?
When your doctor asks: often to confirm a diagnosis, or a few weeks after a change in medicine.
Is it free?
Yes, with no sign-up.