What are the general guidelines for taking a blood pressure measurement?
General guidelines for taking a blood pressure measurement include: having the patient relax for at least 5 minutes, avoiding caffeine, exercise, and smoking for at least 30 minutes before the measurement, emptying the bladder before the measurement, not talking during the measurement, and removing clothing covering the location of the cuff placement. The BP device should be validated and calibrated periodically, the arm should be supported, the cuff should be placed on the patient's upper arm at the level of the right atrium, and the correct cuff size should be used. For auscultatory readings, deflate the cuff pressure 2 mm Hg per second and listen for Korotkoff sounds. At the first visit, record BP in both arms and use the arm that gives the higher reading for subsequent readings. 