Blood Pressure

The silent vital sign. Easy to track, important to catch early.

What it is

Blood pressure measures the force of blood against artery walls, expressed as systolic (when the heart beats) over diastolic (between beats).

Why it matters

Some cancer treatments — particularly certain targeted therapies and steroids — elevate blood pressure as a side effect. Tracking it at home gives real-world data between clinical appointments and catches trends before they become problems.

How to test

Validated home cuff (Omron is reliable). Sit quietly for 5 minutes before measuring. Take two readings 1 minute apart and average them. Measure at the same time each day.

This information is for educational purposes only. Always discuss testing and interpretation of results with your care team.

Optimal range

Below 120/80 mmHg

ideal

120–129 / below 80

elevated

Above 130/80 mmHg

Stage 1 hypertension

How often

Daily if on treatments that affect blood pressure. Weekly otherwise.