How to measure your blood pressure
Tensia doesn’t measure — you do
Let’s be honest about what this app is: Tensia does not measure your blood pressure, and it never will pretend to. Your own home monitor takes the measurement. Tensia does one thing, and does it well — it keeps those readings, with large type and no clutter, so you have a clear record to share with your doctor.
The numbers are only as useful as the way you take them. The steps below summarise the published guidance from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the European Society of Hypertension (ESH).
1. In the 30 minutes before
- No caffeine, smoking or exercise for 30 minutes beforehand.
- Empty your bladder first.
- Sit quietly and rest for at least 5 minutes. Don’t talk or use your phone during this time.
2. Sit correctly
- Use a validated automatic upper-arm cuff monitor with the right cuff size — wrist and finger monitors are less reliable.
- Sit with your back supported and both feet flat on the floor; don’t cross your legs.
- Rest your arm on a table so the cuff is at heart level. Put the cuff on a bare arm, not over clothing.
3. Take the reading
- Stay still and don’t talk while the monitor is working.
- Take at least two readings about one minute apart.
- Use the same arm each time — usually the one that reads higher, if your doctor has found a difference.
4. Make it a routine
Measure at the same times each day — typically morning and evening — and log every reading, not just the ones you like. Tensia’s optional morning and evening reminders and its 14-day chart (with longer 30- and 90-day trends in Plus) are built for exactly this rhythm.
5. Bring it to your doctor
Take your monitor to your next appointment so your doctor can check you’re using it correctly, and share your history as a PDF or CSV. A consistent home record helps far more than a single reading in the clinic.
A note
This page is general educational information summarised from published recommendations — it is not medical advice, and Tensia is a record-keeping tool, not a medical device. Always follow the instructions from your own doctor and your monitor’s manual.