4. Blood Pressure

An Indicator of Artery Health

Blood pressure—the force of blood against the walls of your arteries—rises and falls naturally during the day. When it remains elevated, you have hypertension and with it, a higher risk of atherosclerosis, heart disease, and stroke.

A reading of 140/90 mm/Hg or more is considered high, but if it’s between 120/80 and 139/89, you have prehypertension and should take steps to prevent the development of hypertension.

How to check: If your pressure is normal, the standard advice is have a retest every two years. But a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 13 percent of people whose pressure seemed normal in the doctor’s office actually turned out to have high blood pressure when they checked at home. We suggest talking with your doctor about the pros and cons of getting a home blood pressure monitor (she can help you figure out which type is best for you) and getting instructions on how to use it.

How often to check: If your doctor doesn’t recommend a home test, ask for a blood pressure check at every doctor’s visit. Also take advantage of other opportunities to check it—at community blood pressure checks, workplace health fairs, and even blood pressure testing machines at the drugstore. These aren’t substitutes for doctor’s-office checks, but they’ll help you track your personal BP trends.

Why it’s important: Regular checks will help spot a potential problem early, when lifestyle changes are more likely to resolve high blood pressure.