Nearly every visit to the doctor’s office—and sometimes even the dentist’s office—includes a quick blood pressure reading. Unlike some measurements of physical health like cholesterol, knowing one’s blood pressure is quick, easy, and fairly painless. But for how often we hear about blood pressure, understanding its relationship to a healthy lifestyle can often be quite mysterious.
Blood pressure is often a barometer of overall circulatory health. Someone with high blood pressure is at a significantly greater risk for heart failure, stroke, chronic kidney disease, and damage to the arteries (similar to the damage caused by high cholesterol), which can cause heart attack.
This article continues at High Blood Pressure