Box 1: Blood pressure measurement by standard mercury sphygmomanometer or semiautomated device
•Use a properly maintained, calibrated, and validated device
•Measure sitting blood pressure routinely: standing blood pressure should be recorded at least at the initial estimation in elderly or diabetic patients
•Remove tight clothing, support arm at heart level, ensure arm relaxed and avoid talking during the measurement procedure
•Use cuff of appropriate size (see box 3 in the full guidelines,3 www.bhsoc.org)
•Lower mercury column slowly (2 mm per second)
•Read blood pressure to the nearest 2 mm Hg
•Measure diastolic blood pressure as disappearance of sounds (phase V)
•Take the mean of at least two readings, more recordings are needed if marked differences between initial measurements are found
•Do not treat on the basis of an isolated reading