Best Time of Day to Check Your Blood Pressure

Morning and evening is the usual plan

The AMA's guide for home monitoring asks for readings in the morning and in the evening, with at least two readings each time. The American Heart Association and the CDC both say to measure at the same time each day. Two fixed times a day give your doctor a fair picture of your blood pressure across the day.

Why the same time matters

Blood pressure is not fixed. It is usually lower while you sleep and rises during the day. Harvard Health notes that many people who measure at home see higher readings in the morning than in the evening. If you measure at 7:00 one day and at noon the next, you cannot tell whether a change is real or just the time of day.

The morning reading

Measure within an hour or so of getting up, after you have been to the toilet.
Measure before coffee, breakfast and exercise. All three can raise the reading.
If you take blood pressure medicine in the morning, ask your doctor whether to measure before or after it, and then do it the same way every day.
Sit and rest for 5 minutes first. See how to measure at home.

The evening reading

Pick a calm moment before bed, for example before you brush your teeth.
Wait at least 30 minutes after dinner, coffee, alcohol, a cigarette or exercise.
Keep it at roughly the same time each evening.

How many days?

For a diagnosis or after a change in medicine, the AMA suggests 7 days of morning and evening readings, and at least 3 days. That is the plan behind our 7-day blood pressure log. After that, your doctor will tell you how often to keep measuring.

Should I take my medicine at night instead?

Do not change when you take your medicine on your own. Harvard Health explains that the best timing depends on the person, and some doctors suggest splitting a dose or moving it to bedtime. Bring your morning and evening readings to your doctor and ask.

Not medical advice. This guide is general information. Your target, how often to measure and your treatment come from your doctor, who knows your situation.

Print a morning and evening logTwo readings each time, with pulse and a column for notes.

Questions

Is blood pressure higher in the morning?

For many people, yes. Blood pressure tends to rise after waking. That is one reason doctors ask for both a morning and an evening reading.

Should I check my blood pressure before or after my medicine?

Ask your doctor. Whatever you agree on, do it the same way every day and note it on your log.

Can I measure in the afternoon instead?

If your doctor agrees, yes. The most important thing is to measure at the same times each day.

How long after coffee can I measure?

Wait at least 30 minutes after caffeine, smoking or exercise.

Do I need to measure every day forever?

No. How often you measure depends on your situation. Your doctor may ask for a week of readings now and then, or for regular readings while your treatment is being adjusted.

The best time of day to check your blood pressure