The major US preventative health guidelines have completed a review of blood pressure monitoring and given the check a ‘A’ – highly recommended. Who and when?
Well, it is recommended that annual screening for adults aged 40 years or older and for those who are at increased risk for high blood pressure be undertaken. Persons at increased risk include those who have high-normal blood pressure (130 to 139/85 to 89 mm Hg), those who are overweight or obese, or are indigenous Australian or african american. Adults aged 18 to 39 years with normal blood pressure (<130/85 mm Hg) who do not have other risk factors should be rescreened every 3 to 5 years. We recommend rescreening with properly measured office blood pressure and, if blood pressure is elevated, confirming the diagnosis of hypertension with an ambulatory blood pressure measurement.
Blood pressure checks are simple, non invasive, and the early detection of a problem can increase both the quality and quantity of your life – about two thirds of the population die from heart disease. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a major contributing factor.
