Over a quarter of adults in the US have hypertension, but without measurement and monitoring of blood pressure, many people do not know that they are affected. People often feel well, but doctors advise that people who are over 40 should have their blood pressure checked every five years. If raised blood pressure is detected the frequency of monitoring should be increased.
Regular measurement of blood pressure (weekly or monthly) or a period of several months with a review of the trend detects hypertension better than a one-off trip to the doctor’s office. This is why many people monitor their blood pressure at home with devices like the Garmin Index BPM.