Blood pressure is more than a number – it’s an important indicator of your health and well-being.

Your blood pressure measures the force of blood pushing through your body. If that force is too high, it puts a strain on your arteries and causes damage to your body. If it stays high over time, it can lead to heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and other serious conditions.

May 5 is recognized as Measure Up/Pressure Down® National Day of Action and we ask everyone to roll up your sleeves to take action and check your blood pressure. Knowing and controlling your blood pressure doesn’t have to be complicated! Whether or not you have high blood pressure, you can measure your blood pressure, monitor for changes, and maintain control.

In honor of National High Blood Pressure Education Month (recognized every May in the United States), we encourage you to measure, monitor, and maintain your blood pressure:

• Measure: Knowing your numbers is an important first step. At your next doctor’s appointment, ask what your blood pressure is and write it down. Generally, “high” blood pressure is defined as a systolic (top number) reading of 140 or above and a diastolic (bottom number) reading of 90 or above. Remember to talk with your healthcare provider to determine a blood pressure goal that’s specific to your health.
• Monitor: To better manage the disease, you may want to check your blood pressure on a regular basis. Ask your care team about how often you should measure your blood pressure and where to do so – at the doctor’s office, in the pharmacy, or at home using a home blood pressure monitor.
• Maintain: If you have high blood pressure, your healthcare provider may recommend lifestyle changes and prescribe a blood pressure medication. Often, blood pressure can be managed through eating right, being active, reducing stress, setting alcohol limits, stopping tobacco use, and managing other health issues.

To measure, monitor, and maintain your blood pressure all year round and learn more about this disease, please visit www.MeasureUpPressureDown.com.

AMGA Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the AMGA, launched Measure Up/Pressure Down® – a three-year national campaign to improve care and reduce the burden of high blood pressure. The goal of the three-year campaign is to have 80 percent of high blood pressure patients in control of their condition. To date, the campaign has improved hypertension detection and control for over half a million patients. The campaign also brings together national partners and sponsor organizations to work collectively to provide patients and communities information and tools that facilitate lifestyle changes, medication adherence, and other keys to successful blood pressure control. To learn more, visit www.amga.org/foundation