When and how should I measure correctly?

According to the guidelines of the German Hypertension League, the European Society of Hypertension (ESH), and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), you should measure your blood pressure in the morning and evening. If you do not check your blood pressure readings every day on an ongoing basis, you should check and record your blood pressure according to the described schedule for at least 3 days, but preferably 6-7 days, before visiting a doctor. We recommend sitting on the edge of the bed with your back supported for 5 minutes immediately after waking up and then measuring your blood pressure. In the evening, please measure it immediately before going to bed. Again, remain seated on the edge of the bed with your back supported for 5 minutes, then measure your blood pressure before lying down. Take two measurements 1-2 minutes apart and please record both readings.

If you urgently need to use the toilet after waking up, please do so first. Then sit on the edge of the bed again, lean your back against something or support it,  rest for 5 minutes, and then start measuring your blood pressure.

Note for shift workers: The exact times do not matter. Simply measure your blood pressure before going to sleep and after getting up.

The measurement should be taken at heart level. This is particularly important when measuring while seated with a wrist monitor. With upper-arm monitors, the cuff is usually automatically at the correct height. Lean your back against a support or otherwise support it, and for both types of monitor, support your arm with cushions as well. When measuring with an upper-arm cuff, the arm should be bare. If you roll up your sleeve, make sure that it does not constrict your arm and thereby impair the blood supply. Some monitors allow measurements to be taken through thin clothing; please follow the instructions for your monitor.