* AWARENESS


or higher — meaning that you have a one-in-ten chance of developing cardiovascular disease — you should be taking a blood pressure-lowering medication in addition to adopting non-drug, lifestyle changes.


Similar to earlier guidelines, the use of medication and lifestyle changes are recommended for everyone with stage 2 high blood pressure (now those with readings of 140 mmHg or 90 mmHg or greater).


How to Take Your Blood Pressure Learning how to take your blood pressure at home is important, and can provide valuable information to manage your numbers.


Blood pressure levels vary. Sometimes the blood pressure readings we get in the office are not accurate, and are only a point in time. For some people, blood pressure may be elevated falsely in the provider’s office (called white coat hypertension). For others, it may be misleadingly lower than it usually is (called masked hypertension). In an ideal world, we should be taking two blood pressure readings on two different occasions and taking the average of these numbers. Home blood pressure monitoring and knowing your numbers over time can give your healthcare team a better picture of your true blood pressure. But blood pressure has to be taken correctly.


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