How to check blood pressure without a cuff?

Blood pressure is the force that the blood exerts on the walls of blood vessels, as it is pumped around the body by the heart. It is recorded as two numbers, 120/80. The top number is called Systolic, which is the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts, while the bottom number is called diastolic, which is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is relaxed between heartbeats. 

A doctor can listen to your blood pressure by placing a stethoscope on your artery and pumping up a cuff around your arm. Most people do not have it at home, but it is necessary for an accurate reading. You can use your pulse to estimate your systolic blood pressure, while diastolic blood pressure can only be evaluated using an arm cuff or stethoscope. Let’s dive into the article about how to check blood pressure without a cuff.

How to check blood pressure using your pulse?

First locate your pulse

The first step in estimating your systolic blood pressure is to locate your pulse. Your pulse will give you the essential information to estimate if your systolic blood pressure is relatively standard. Keep in mind this is a very rough estimate and only tells you if your systolic blood pressure is not low. It doesn’t indicate high blood pressure.

Place your fingers on the inside of your wrist.

Take two fingers, preferably your index and middle fingers, and place them below the wrist creases on the thumb side of your hand. Don’t use your thumb, as your thumb has a strong enough pulse to interfere with this process.

Notice your pulse.

Once you’ve got your two fingers in the general area, see if you can feel your radial pulse – the Shockwave generated by the beating of your heart. If you feel your pulse, this indicates that your systolic measurement is at least 80 mmHg, which is normal. This does not, however, give you any information as to whether or not your blood pressure is high. If you don’t feel your pulse, your systolic is likely below 80 mm Hg, which is still expected.

This indicates your blood pressure is at least 80 mm Hg because your radial artery (the artery in your wrist) is small, and your blood pressure must be at least 80 mmHg for a pulse to reach it. Not feeling your pulse does not indicate health problems.

Note: Estimating your blood pressure without a cuff will give you no information about your diastolic pressure.

Recheck your pulse after being active.

 It would be best to recheck your pulse later in the day to get an idea of how it increases after some activity. This will give you more information to determine whether your blood pressure is low, high, or average. If you don’t have a detectable pulse after moderate activity, there is a chance you could have low blood pressure.

Note: Consult your doctor if you suspect any irregularities.

How to check blood pressure using a mobile app?

This is not an accurate way to check your blood pressure. While these apps are a great idea, the unfortunate news is that their results are not reliable. It is considered a “recreational” medical device and is not a legitimate medical instrument that records your blood pressure. Do not use one of these apps and assume that the information provided is accurate or valid.

Visit the app store on your smartphone.

Visit the appropriate app store for your phone and operating system. You’ll find many mobile health-monitoring applications in the app store that offer many functions.

1. Type in blood pressure monitor
2. View the different results.
3. Pick a few, select them, and read user reviews.
4. When reading reviews, focus on ease of use and people’s general happiness with the app.
5. If users rated the app 3 stars or below, look for another.

Download an application.

After you’ve read some reviews about a couple of apps, you need to select one and download it.

To download the app: Press the “download” button on your smartphone. This button may vary based on your operating system.

Use the application to read your blood pressure. 

After downloading the app, you need to click on the icon representing it. That will open the app. You’ll then want to use the app to measure your blood pressure. If the app offers more diagnostics than blood pressure, select the blood pressure diagnostic option.

Read the directions.

Make sure your index finger covers the camera on the back of the phone. The application will calculate blood pressure using photoelectric pulse wave signal stability information. This technology analyzes your pulse, heart rate, and other information to arrive at health statistics.

Hold your finger on the camera until the app tells you its measurement is complete.

Record the results.

Consult your physician. 

You should contact and consult your physician if you have any concerns about your blood pressure level. Your physician can make recommendations about improving your blood pressure or treating high or low blood pressure.

If your blood pressure is high, your doctor will prescribe medication to lower it.

Your doctor may recommend a diet or exercise routine.

Exercise regularly to regulate your blood pressure. 

Exercising regularly is one of the best ways to improve your blood pressure. By exercising regularly, you’ll improve your cardiovascular system and get your heart in better shape.

Focus on cardio activities like cycling, running, or power walking.

Make sure not to overexert yourself.

Consult your doctor before adopting any severe exercise regimen, especially if you have blood pressure problems.

Change your diet to lower your high blood pressure. 

• If you struggle with high blood pressure, you can make certain modifications to your diet to help.
• Lower your sodium intake. Make sure to keep your sodium intake below 2,300 milligrams a day.
• Eat six to eight servings a day of whole grains. Whole grains have a lot of fiber and can help lower your blood pressure.
• Eat four to five fruits and vegetables daily to lower your blood pressure.
• Eliminate fatty meats and limit dairy consumption to lower your blood pressure.
• Limit your sugar intake to five servings a week or less to lower blood pressure.

Consider other dietary changes if you have low blood pressure. 

• Make a few adjustments to your diet to help raise your blood pressure into a healthy range.
• Increase your sodium intake if your blood pressure is low. Try to consume at least 2,000 milligrams of sodium per day.
• Drink more water if your blood pressure is low.

To learn how to check blood pressure manually and how to control your blood glucose levels, please visit the healthcare pages on howtothings.net.

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this blog post is not aimed at substituting for professional medical advice or treatment. It’s always appreciated to contact your healthcare provider before starting, shifting, or halting any health treatment.