Monitoring your parent's blood pressure remotely

How to get reliable BP readings from parents in India, how often, which readings need urgent advice, and how to share trends with their doctor.

By the Athnova Care team · Updated 2026-09-29

This guide is general information to help families organise care. It is not medical advice — follow your parent's doctor.

Start with a reliable machine

An automatic upper-arm monitor is generally preferred to a wrist model for older adults.
The cuff must fit the arm. A cuff that is too small reads high.
Take the machine to a doctor visit once and compare it with the clinic reading.

Take readings the same way each time

Sit quietly for five minutes, back supported, feet flat on the floor.
Rest the arm on a table at the level of the heart. No talking.
Take two readings a minute apart and record the second.
Morning before medicines, and evening, on the days the doctor has asked for.

Readings taken after climbing stairs, after tea or coffee, or during an argument about taking readings are not useful. Consistency matters more than frequency.

Readings to act on

Reading	What families are generally advised to do
180/120 or higher	Seek urgent medical advice. With chest pain, breathlessness, weakness, difficulty speaking or confusion, call 112.
Below 90/60 with dizziness or fainting	Contact their doctor the same day.
Consistently above the target the doctor has set	Book a review, and take the readings with you.

General safety thresholds. Your parent’s doctor sets their personal target.

One high reading means little. A week of readings, morning and evening, with the average, is what a doctor can work with. If your parent sends a photo of the screen, the numbers can be read and charted automatically.

Things that push readings up or down

Missed tablets, or tablets taken at a different time.
Pain, poor sleep, a full bladder, salt-heavy food.
Painkillers and some cold medicines — ask the doctor or pharmacist.
Standing up quickly: dizziness on standing should be mentioned to the doctor.

Questions for the doctor

What is my parent’s target?
How many days a week should they measure?
At what reading should we call you?

Questions families ask

What BP reading is an emergency?

180/120 or higher needs urgent medical advice; with symptoms such as chest pain, weakness or confusion, call 112.

Wrist or arm monitor?

Upper-arm monitors are generally recommended for older adults. Ask their doctor if an arm cuff is not practical.

How often should an elderly parent check BP?

As often as their doctor asks. For many people with stable blood pressure that is a few days a week rather than every day.

Athnova Care tracks and coordinates care. It does not diagnose, prescribe or replace a doctor. In a medical emergency in India call 112.