How to Use a Wrist Blood Pressure Cuff the Right Way

A wrist blood pressure cuff is small, light, and easier to put on by yourself than a full upper-arm cuff. For people with larger arms, arthritis in the shoulder, or trouble reaching across the body, a wrist cuff can be the right choice. The catch is that wrist cuffs are far more sensitive to position than arm cuffs. If your wrist is even a few inches above or below the level of your heart when the cuff inflates, the reading can be off by ten or twenty points. Used the right way, though, a good wrist cuff gives readings close to an upper-arm reading, and your doctor can use the numbers to track your heart health.

The American Heart Association says wrist cuffs are acceptable for home use when an arm cuff does not fit or is too painful. But they note the wrist must be held exactly at heart level. Most modern wrist monitors from brands like Omron and Equate have a built-in position sensor that beeps or shows a green light when your wrist is in the right spot. If you can buy a model with that sensor, do, because it takes the guesswork out of the process. The cost difference is small, and the readings are much more reliable.

Before you measure, follow the same rules as with an arm cuff. Empty your bladder, sit quietly for five minutes, and avoid coffee or exercise in the half hour before. Sit in a chair with your back supported and your feet flat on the floor. Take off any watch, bracelet, or thick sleeve from the arm you plan to use. The cuff goes on the bare wrist, not over a sleeve. Place the cuff so the bottom edge is about half an inch from the bend of your wrist. Most cuffs have a screen or a marker that should face up, on the same side as your palm.

The most important step is the position of your wrist when the cuff inflates. Rest the wrist on the opposite shoulder, or hold it across your chest so the cuff is at the level of your heart, roughly the middle of your chest. Many people make the mistake of resting the wrist on a table, which puts it below heart level and reads low. Take two readings one minute apart, write them down, and bring the log to your next doctor visit. Like any home monitor, the wrist cuff works best when you use it the same way every time and keep a steady record over weeks and months.