Weight Monitoring

It is best to:

• weigh yourself in the morning (at the same time each day), after emptying your bladder and before breakfast
• wear the same amount of clothes each time you weigh yourself and record it daily in your diary or chart
• use the same weighing scale

Watch for sudden weight gain and contact your case/care manager or doctor – if you suddenly gain more than 1 kg of weight a day for three days.

Related: What is a Healthy Weight?

Measuring Your Blood Pressure

• Record your blood pressure reading daily
• Measure your blood pressure at the same time everyday using the same arm. Be relaxed when taking the blood pressure
• Use the correct cuff size for accurate readings
• Avoid drinking coffee, smoking or doing strenuous exercise 30 minutes before measuring your blood pressure
• Sit upright with your back supported, and place both feet on the ground
• Rest your arm on a table with the palm of your hand facing up
• Make sure the blood pressure monitor cuff around your arm is at the same level as your heart
• If your blood pressure reading is high, rest for five minutes before measuring it again

Contact your case/care manager, nurse or doctor if your blood pressure reading remains high after repeating it three times.

How to Read Blood Pressure

• The higher reading is your systolic blood pressure (when your heart beats)
• The lower reading is your diastolic blood pressure (when your heart relaxes between beats)
• In general, the target resting level of blood pressure should be 130/80mmHg or less, if tolerated. Please check with your doctor for your personal blood pressure target.

If you are on medication for high blood pressure

• Take your medicines regularly and as prescribed by your doctor
• Do not double the dosage if you have missed a dose
• Do not stop taking them even when your blood pressure is lowered
  

Read these next:

• Heart Failure - Keeping to a Healthy Diet
  
• Diabetes and Heart Disease
  
• Get Your Heart Pumping