How long should a patient rest before their blood pressure is taken?

Resting before taking a patient's blood pressure is essential to ensure that the reading is as accurate as possible. Five minutes of quiet rest is generally recommended because it allows the patient to stabilize from any physical activity or stress that could temporarily elevate blood pressure. During this time, the heart rate and blood pressure levels tend to return closer to normal, providing a more reliable assessment of the patient's baseline blood pressure. This practice is particularly important in clinical settings where accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of hypertension are crucial.

While rest periods longer than five minutes, such as ten or fifteen minutes, might also be beneficial, the standard guideline emphasizes a five-minute wait for a balance of efficiency and accuracy in obtaining the blood pressure measurement.