---
title: "How To Take Accurate Blood Pressure Readings"
url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-resources/my-health-online/sync/how-to-take-an-accurate-blood-pressure-reading-at-home"
---

1.  [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) /
2.  [Patient resources](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-resources) /
3.  [My Health Online](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-resources/my-health-online) /
4.  [Sutter Sync](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-resources/my-health-online/sync) /
5.  How To Take Accurate Blood Pressure Readings

# How to take accurate blood pressure readings 

Get reliable results at home

**How to take a blood pressure reading**  
Learn how to take a blood pressure reading using your Sutter Sync monitor.

## Rest for 5-10 minutes before a reading

The goal is to check resting blood pressure. Don’t drink coffee, use nicotine, or do any activity that raises your heart rate for 30 minutes before. If you can, sit quietly for 5–10 minutes and take a few deep breaths before you start.

## Open the My Health Online app 

Before each reading, open the My Health Online app and sign in. This helps your monitor stay connected and send your readings to your health chart.

## Check that your cuff is on correctly

-   Wrap the cuff about two inches (2 finger widths) above your elbow
-   Make sure the white arrow points up toward your shoulder
-   It should feel snug, but not tight — you should be able to slide one finger underneath
-   The tube should lay flat and run down the center of your arm
-   Rest your arm on a table so it stays relaxed, with your palm facing up

If your cuff is too big or too small for your arm, please call the Sutter Sync team at [855-320-5200](tel:+18553205200).

Related articles

![A female doctor looking at the camera smiling.](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/SutterHealth/Images/Sutter-Sync/sutter-sync-welcome-call.jpg?h=1080&iar=0&w=1920)

### [Sutter Sync welcome call](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-resources/my-health-online/sync/welcome-call)

Meet your Sutter Sync Pharmacist and officially kick off your care.

![A woman is sitting on a couch viewing health guides on her cell phone](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/SutterHealth/Images/Sutter-Sync/health-guides-on-phone.jpg?h=534&iar=0&w=800)

### [Choosing Health Guides](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-resources/my-health-online/sync/choosing-health-guides)

Short easy-to-do ideas that fit into your daily routine.

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]}
```

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","name":"How To Take Accurate Blood Pressure Readings","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-resources/my-health-online/sync/how-to-take-an-accurate-blood-pressure-reading-at-home","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-resources/my-health-online/sync/how-to-take-an-accurate-blood-pressure-reading-at-home#breadcrumblist"}}
```

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-resources/my-health-online/sync/how-to-take-an-accurate-blood-pressure-reading-at-home#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Patient resources","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-resources"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"My Health Online","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-resources/my-health-online"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Sutter Sync","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-resources/my-health-online/sync"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"name":"How To Take Accurate Blood Pressure Readings"}]}
```

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Sutter Sync: How to take a blood pressure reading","thumbnailUrl":"https://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/static/817826402001/c11e3ab9-8491-481c-8d47-6118b1b4bdb7/81724543-3400-4764-9504-f076fc3b0ff2/1280x720/match/image.jpg","uploadDate":"2026-02-20T21:57:43.955Z","embedUrl":"https://players.brightcove.net/817826402001/79bcaa57-54d7-453c-9f1f-8ab3ef7b15de/index.html?videoId=6389646833112","description":"Learn how to take a blood pressure reading with your Sutter Sync monitor","duration":"PT2M41S","transcript":"Before you take your first reading, make sure you've paired your Sutter Sync monitor with the\nMyHealth Online app.\nIf you need help pairing, take a look at the guide that came with your care kit.\nTo get the most accurate reading of your resting blood pressure, avoid coffee, nicotine,\nand high-energy activity for at least thirty minutes beforehand, and if you can, rest\nquietly for five to ten minutes.\nNow let's get started.\nGrab your SutterSync blood pressure monitor and smartphone and sit comfortably at a table.\nMake sure your phone's Bluetooth is turned on and then log into your MyHealth Online app.\nYou'll need the app open in the background during every reading.\nRemove any jewelry and roll up your sleeve so your arm is bare.\nIf possible, use the same arm for every reading.\nThen wrap the cuff around your upper arm.\nWrap it about one inch or two finger widths above where your elbow bends.\n\nIt should feel snug but not too tight.\nYou should be able to fit one finger under the cuff.\nMake sure the air tube runs down the center of your arm right in line with your middle finger\nand rest your arm on the table with your palm facing up.\nSit up straight with your feet flat on the floor.\nBe sure not to cross your legs.\nRelax your shoulders and arms and take a few deep breaths.\nBefore you start, check that the monitor is set to user one.\nIt must stay on user one for every reading.\nThen when you're ready, press the Start/Stop button to begin the reading.\nThe cuff will automatically begin inflating.\nBe sure to stay still and quiet during the reading.\nWhen your reading is finished, the cuff will deflate automatically, and you'll see your\nnumbers on the screen, along with a small upload icon that will blink and then disappear\nonce your reading has been securely sent to your MyHealth Online chart.\nAnd that's it. The monitor will shut off automatically after\nabout a minute. To view your reading in the MHO app, tap the\nmenu icon and search Track My Health.\n\nUnder Health Logs, tap Hypertension Home Monitoring, then tap View All Readings to see\nyour most recent results.\nIf you run into any error messages while taking a reading, check out the user manual\nthat came in your care kit.\nAnd if your cuff is too big or too small for your arm, contact your Sutter Sync care team\nfor support."}
```