Your Body Almanac

Check your blood pressure

Get your blood pressure checked at least yearly from age 40, or sooner if you are at higher risk.

How often
Yearly
Time
10 min
Recommended for
11 factors

How to do it

  1. Have it checked every year if you are 40 or older or at higher risk, and every 3 to 5 years from 18 to 39 if your last reading was normal and you are not at higher risk.
  2. If your doctor asks you to monitor at home, use a validated cuff on your bare upper arm. Sit with your back supported and feet flat for 5 minutes first.
  3. Don't eat, drink caffeine or alcohol, smoke or exercise for 30 minutes before. Empty your bladder first.
  4. Rest your arm on a table at chest height, don't talk, and take at least two readings 1 to 2 minutes apart.
  5. Measure at the same time each day and share the log with your doctor.

Why it helps

High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, but over time it strains your heart, brain, kidneys and eyes. Stress, long sitting, heavy drinking and salty food can all push it up. Measuring is the only way to know.

SourcesMeasuring Your Blood Pressure (CDC)Hypertension in Adults: Screening (US Preventive Services Task Force)High Blood Pressure (NHLBI, NIH)

Be careful

A high reading in the office should be confirmed with readings outside the clinic before treatment starts. If you already have high blood pressure, ask your care team how often to measure.

Recommended for

habit

Drinking alcohol

Social, relaxing, and harder on your body than it feels at the time.

5 risks · 11 practices habit

Eating out often

Restaurants, takeout and delivery for most meals of the week.

4 risks · 8 practices occupation

Firefighter

Extreme heat, heavy gear, smoke, sleepless shifts and traumatic calls.

6 risks · 16 practices habit

High-stress periods

Deadlines, money worries, a move, a loss, or all of them at once.

5 risks · 12 practices habit

Long commute by car

An hour or more a day seated, braced and on alert behind the wheel.

5 risks · 12 practices habit

Night shift work

Awake when your body expects to sleep, asleep when the world is loud.

5 risks · 13 practices habit

Ongoing sleep loss

Night feeds, early alarms or a busy mind, and never quite enough sleep.

4 risks · 10 practices occupation

Physician

Long, high-stakes days with little time to eat, move or sleep.

5 risks · 16 practices occupation

Police officer

Long shifts in a patrol car, heavy gear and moments of high stress.

5 risks · 16 practices habit

Smoking and vaping

Nicotine, smoke and aerosol, many times a day, for years.

5 risks · 7 practices occupation

Truck driver

Long hours behind the wheel, irregular sleep and food from truck stops.

5 risks · 16 practices