High blood pressure (hypertension) can lead to heart disease, so why don’t people check their blood pressure regularly? Let’s find out.
According to research published in the journal JAMA Network Open, only 48 percent of older Americans with blood pressure issues check their levels regularly. Moreover, the study found that this was the case even though 62 percent of them had been encouraged by their doctor to monitor their levels at home.
High blood pressure (hypertension) can lead to heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. The study used data from a nationally representative sample of 2,023 people aged 50 to 80, which is part of the University of Michigan’s ongoing National Poll on Healthy Aging. While some participants only had hypertension, others had diabetes, heart disease, heart failure, or kidney disease.
High Blood Pressure and Testing
While hypertension can lead to deadlier conditions, home monitoring may help manage the condition and lead to lower readings. Blood pressure tests focus on two numbers: systolic blood pressure (top number) and diastolic blood pressure (bottom number). Each of these measures the force that the heart uses to pump blood throughout the body.
According to the American Heart Association, a normal reading is 120/80 while any consistent readings of 130/80 or higher indicate hypertension. Moreover, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that even though 70 percent of U.S. adults 65 and older have hypertension, many don’t know they have it.
Why People Don’t Check
With blood pressure being as important as it is, you may wonder why so many people don’t check their blood pressure on a regular basis. According to the study, of the respondents who didn’t own an at-home monitor, 54 percent reported that “they did not think they needed or never thought about getting one.”
One reason people may not be checking their blood pressure regularly is due to a lack of symptoms. While most people may go to the doctor when they don’t feel well, the fact about high blood pressure is that it doesn’t typically present any symptoms. For this reason, many people refer to hypertension as the “silent killer.”
High blood pressure doesn’t usually present any warning signs or symptoms until it’s too late and you experience a heart attack or stroke. Since many people depend on symptoms to let them know they’re sick, the lack of symptoms may be tricking some into thinking everything is fine and they don’t need to check their blood pressure.
However, the complete opposite is true. Due to the lack of symptoms, it’s important to check your blood pressure regularly, as this is the only way to know if you have hypertension. If you want to take care of your heart before a problem occurs, you can also take L-arginine Plus for an extra boost.
Its ingredients promote circulation, blood pressure, cholesterol, and overall heart health. If you’re ready to give your health the support it deserves, then check your blood pressure regularly and take L-arginine Plus.