Home Blood Pressure Monitoring: AHA/AMA 7-Day Protocol Guide

Self-measured blood pressure monitoring (SMBP) gives your doctor far better data than office visits alone. The AHA/AMA standard protocol uses seven consecutive days of home readings to confirm diagnosis and guide treatment.

What you need

• A validated upper-arm automatic monitor (check the Validate BP list)
• The correct cuff size for your arm
• A quiet place to sit and rest before each reading

The 7-day protocol

1. Duration: 7 consecutive days (skip none if possible)
2. Frequency: Two readings in the morning, two in the evening
3. Morning: Before medications and breakfast, after 5 minutes of quiet sitting
4. Evening: Before dinner or medications, after 5 minutes of quiet sitting
5. Between readings: Wait 1–2 minutes between the two readings in each session
6. Discard day 1: Average days 2–7 for the clinical summary

How to take an accurate reading

1. Sit with back supported, feet flat on the floor
2. Rest your arm at heart level on a table
3. Do not talk, eat, or exercise for 30 minutes before
4. Empty your bladder first
5. Take two readings and record both

Why home monitoring beats office-only

Up to 30% of patients have higher readings at the clinic (white coat hypertension). Home monitoring reveals your true average and helps distinguish white coat effect from sustained hypertension.

CardioOK and SMBP

CardioOK guides you through the 7-day protocol with reminders, structured entry, and automatic averaging — then shares a summary with your doctor.

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