When To Call A Professional

Adults should have their blood pressure measured at least every few years. If your blood pressure is higher than 120/80 mmHg, schedule regular appointments with your doctor to have your blood pressure monitored and to get advice about modifying your lifestyle to prevent problems in the future.

Prognosis

The prognosis of high blood pressure depends on how long you've had it, how severe it is, and if you have other conditions, such as diabetes, that increase the risk of disease of the heart, brain, eyes and kidneys. When high blood pressure is treated adequately, the prognosis is much better. Remember, high blood pressure can lead to a poor prognosis even if you do not have symptoms, and that both lifestyle changes and medicines can control your blood pressure and greatly improve your prognosis.

Additional Info

American Heart Association (AHA) 7272 Greenville Ave. Dallas, TX 75231 Toll-Free: (800) 242-8721 http://www.americanheart.org/

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) P.O. Box 30105 Bethesda, MD 20824-0105 Phone: (301) 592-8573 TTY: (240) 629-3255 Fax: (301) 592-8563 E-Mail: nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.gov http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/