Think your blood pressure stays the same all the time? Think again.
A new study led by Yuan Lu from Yale School of Medicine shows that blood pressure can go up and down like a seesaw.
This matters because nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure, which can harm your heart, kidneys, and even your memory. Even more concerning, only 1 in 4 people manage to keep it under control.
You might think checking your blood pressure at the doctor’s office is enough—but it’s not. The study found that even people who take medicine to lower their blood pressure can see big changes between doctor visits.
Lu and her team looked at 7.7 million blood pressure readings from more than 537,000 adults. They found that blood pressure could change by as much as 12 mmHg between visits. Even more surprising, in 37% of cases, the medicine didn’t lower blood pressure as expected—and sometimes, it didn’t lower it at all.
These swings make it hard for doctors to tell if a treatment is working. That’s why checking blood pressure only during office visits may not give the full picture.
So what’s the better option? Experts like the American Heart Association recommend checking your blood pressure at home. But most people don’t do this—they rely only on their doctor’s readings.
Dr. Wanpen Vongpatanasin from UT Southwestern Medical Center explains that blood pressure can be higher in a clinic due to nerves or poor-fitting equipment.
To check your blood pressure at home, you’ll need an automatic cuff for your upper arm. Make sure it fits you properly. Avoid caffeine, exercise, and smoking for 30 minutes before taking a reading. Sit quietly for a few minutes, rest your arm at heart level, and then take your reading.
Not everyone can afford a home monitor, and that’s okay. You can also use machines at local health clinics or pharmacies to keep track of your numbers.
Remember, blood pressure goes up and down, so it’s important to monitor it regularly. One reading at the clinic isn’t enough. Regular checks—especially at home—can help you and your doctor find the best way to manage it.
Managing high blood pressure isn’t just something you do once. It’s an ongoing process. By keeping track of the changes, you can take control of your health and reduce your risk of serious conditions.
If you want to learn more, check out other studies that explore how things like your diet or even gum disease can affect blood pressure. The more you know, the better you can take care of yourself.
This study was published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about This daily food is very important for blood pressure and heart health and Common blood pressure medication may have harmful side effects.
For more about blood pressure, please read studies about This alcohol treatment could help treat high blood pressure and How blood pressure changes with age.
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