A blood pressure screening is important because high blood pressure usually has no symptoms and cannot be detected without being measured.
High blood pressure increases risk of heart disease and stroke. Be screened for blood pressure once every two years, starting at age 20. If the blood pressure is too high, a doctor may want it checked more often. “Get your blood pressure checked as often as possible and keep a running list of blood pressures so you can see if there is a trend upwards or downwards or if you are fairly stable,” said Cynthia Arnoldusson, RN, clinical educator at Riverside Medical Center in Waupaca. “The effects of a stroke can be devastating so it is vital to address high blood pressure.”
High blood pressure can be controlled through lifestyle changes or medication. After age 65, women have a higher risk of high blood pressure than men, and African-American adults of all ages have a higher-than-average risk.
The key to preventing cardiovascular disease is to manage risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high total cholesterol or high blood glucose. Through regular doctor visits, a doctor can screen for the risk factors and help form a plan to manage them.
A doctor might recommend a blood pressure check:
- At least every 1 to 2 years if the blood pressure is less than 120/80.
- At least every year—or as often as recommended—if you have prehypertension. This means the systolic pressure (the first number) is 120 to 139 and the diastolic pressure (the second number) is 80 to 89.
- More often if there are other risk factors of heart disease or evidence of disease caused by high blood pressure.
The automated devices at grocery stores or drugstores may not be accurate. The best place to check is at the doctor's office.
A home blood pressure monitor makes it easy to keep track of blood pressure. It's a good idea to bring the home monitor to the doctor's office to check its accuracy.
