ANN ARBOR, Mi (UNIV. OF MICHIGAN HEALTH) - Knowing your numbers could be key to living a healthy life, especially when it comes to blood pressure. However, many people may not be monitoring their blood pressure as closely as they should. Doctors say this could lead to serious health problems.
Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure, yet only one in four of those individuals have their hypertension under control. This places people at a higher risk of both heart attack and stroke. A cardiologist at the University of Michigan emphasizes the importance of regular blood pressure checks.
“It’s so important that everyone get their blood pressure checked, because having high blood pressure doesn't cause any symptoms. We can't feel high blood pressure, so we have to have that blood pressure checked to know whether there's something that needs to be done, like starting a medication or adjusting our diet to help bring the blood pressure down,” says Dr. Geoffrey Barnes, M.D., M.Sc., cardiologist and vascular medicine specialist at the U-M Health Frankel Cardiovascular Center.
It’s estimated that between 20% and 45% of blood pressure readings taken in health care settings may be inaccurate. This phenomenon, known as white coat hypertension, can occur for several reasons, including anxiety about visiting the doctor. Dr. Barnes advises patients who check their blood pressure at home to follow specific instructions for accuracy.
“To get an accurate blood pressure reading at home, there's three things to do. The first is, you want to use an arm cuff and not a wrist cuff, because it's much more accurate. The second is you want to sit down in a well-supported chair that has a back with your feet on the ground, not crossing your legs, and sit there for five or 10 minutes to relax. Then the third thing you do is check the blood pressure three times in a row, but only look at the third reading. That third reading is the most accurate number, and that's the one we want to report,” adds Dr. Barnes.
For those without access to a home blood pressure cuff, Barnes recommends investing in one if possible. Alternatively, many local pharmacies have free blood pressure machines available for public use.
