Blood Pressure Monitoring

One out of every three adults in the UK has high blood pressure. What is it? Blood pressure is simply the measure of the force of the blood that is transported to and from the heart via the arteries. When this pressure increases and remains at a high level over time, it can and likely will damage vital organs like the heart and kidneys. The condition may also wear out the blood vessels and lead to a heart attack or stroke.

But the most dangerous thing about high blood pressure it that people who have it seldom experience symptoms. And as a result, many people are shocked when their doctors inform them that they have high blood pressure, or worse still when they have a heart attack or a stroke.

For this reason, men and women over the age of forty should dedicate themselves to blood pressure monitoring . How often should you have it checked? People who have a normal or average reading should schedule a checkup with their doctor every six months to a year. But patients who suffer from high blood pressure must keep a much closer eye on their readings.

According to most physicians, a reading of 120/80 mmHG or more puts people at increased risk of developing what is called prehypertension. For patients who are on that road, it is really the last, emphatic warning that if you don't change your ways you will develop high blood pressure.

If you already have high blood pressure, monitoring could be the difference between life and death. That is why many patients who are serious about lowering these deadly levels actually purchase their own blood pressure monitors. While these devices will not be covered by insurance, they are fairly affordable and more importantly they may save your life.

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