How Often Should I Have My Blood Pressure Checked?

Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure (hypertension), a chronic medical condition that raises your risk of serious health issues, like heart attack, heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, vision problems, and some types of dementia. 

Regular blood pressure screenings play a key role in catching hypertension early, before those complications develop.

At Healthy Life Family Medicine, John Monroe, MD in Goodyear, Arizona, helps patients maintain healthy blood pressure with regular monitoring, medical care, and lifestyle changes targeted toward their specific needs. Here, we explain more about blood pressure readings and how often you should have your blood pressure checked.

Blood pressure basics

Blood pressure refers to the force your blood exerts on the walls of your blood vessels as it courses through your body. 

Blood delivers nutrients and oxygen to every part of your body at a relatively stable and predictable pressure. When your blood pressure is elevated, that added pressure can damage the blood vessel walls, as well as your organs and tissues.

Typically, medical professionals measure blood pressure using a special cuff called a sphygmomanometer. 

We place the cuff around your limb — usually your arm — and inflate it, exerting pressure on your vessels. A very sensitive gauge measures your blood pressure as it passes through the vessels beneath the cuff.

Know your numbers

Blood pressure readings consist of two numbers. The first number is your systolic pressure — the pressure inside your arteries when your heart beats. The second number is your diastolic pressure, which is the pressure inside your arteries when your heart rests between beats. The result is given in millimeters of mercury, or mmHg.

Normal blood pressure is defined as less than 120/80 mmHg. If your blood pressure is higher than this number, it can indicate a potential health issue. The American Heart association provides this chart for a better understanding of what your personal blood pressure numbers may mean.

Low blood pressure — less than 90/60 mmHg — can also indicate a potential health problem.

Checking your blood pressure: How often?

High blood pressure often has no noticeable symptoms on its own, and many people don’t know they have hypertension until a serious problem occurs, like a stroke or heart attack. 

By checking your blood pressure on a regular basis, you help prevent complications and maintain good health.

How frequently you need to check your blood pressure depends on lots of factors, including your age and whether you have certain health risks associated with hypertension, like:

• Smoking
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Personal or family history of heart problems
• Sleep apnea
• Older age

Even dietary and lifestyle choices, like eating a lot of junk food or being too sedentary, can affect how often you should check your blood pressure.

At Healthy Life Family Medicine, we measure your blood pressure during your annual physical and during other office visits. Keeping a record of your blood pressure helps us spot subtle changes that could indicate a need for further evaluation or even lifestyle modifications.

Generally, most people with normal blood pressure need to have it measured every couple of years at least. Those who have elevated or high blood pressure and people with risk factors for hypertension may need to have it monitored more frequently. 

We will be able to determine how often you should have your blood pressure measured to help you stay healthy.

Keep your blood pressure in check

Blood pressure measurement is painless and quick, and you can even invest in a cuff for home use when warranted. 

To learn how often you should measure your blood pressure or how we can help you maintain a healthy blood pressure, call us at (623)-889-3477 or request an appointment online with our team at Healthy Life Family Medicine in Goodyear, Arizona, today.