Monitor Your Health with a Blood Pressure Screening in MA & RI

Blood pressure screenings measure your blood pressure to determine if you have or are at risk of developing hypertension, or high blood pressure. A blood pressure cuff is placed on your arm to get a reading of the pressure inside your blood vessels.

Your blood pressure consists of two numbers:

• Systolic blood pressure (the top number) is the pressure when your heart is contracting and pushing blood through your body. It should be less than 120.
• Diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) is the pressure when your heart is relaxing and filling with blood. It should be less than 80.

Check your blood pressure in southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island with the help of Southcoast Health. As part of our wellness and prevention services, you can have a blood pressure screening on the Southcoast Wellness Van or at your doctor’s office.

Reasons to Check Your Blood Pressure

It’s important to monitor your blood pressure regularly because of the negative effects of high blood pressure on your health. People do not usually feel the symptoms of hypertension, allowing it to create irreversible damage for years.

The American Heart Association recommends regular blood pressure checks every two years starting at age 20. You can continue screenings at this interval as long as your blood pressure is normal, or below 120/80 mmHg. Your doctor may want to check it more often (yearly) if your blood pressure is higher. Your doctor may also check it more frequently if you are older than 60 or have any of the following:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Kidney disease
• Obesity or you are overweight

Regular blood pressure screenings help catch high blood pressure early, which is the key to preventing damage to your body and maintaining your health. Uncontrolled high blood pressure puts you at risk for heart disease, heart attack, stroke, aneurysm and organ damage.

What to Expect from a Blood Pressure Screening at Southcoast Health

Generally, a blood pressure reading at or above 140/90 mmHg is considered high. Readings can be high in response to many situations. Sometimes, this is normal, such as during strenuous activity or with nervousness.

If you have a high reading, your doctor will want to repeat a screening within a few weeks. A second high reading may mean it’s time to think about making lifestyle changes, such as more physical activity, or starting treatment with blood pressure medication.

Whether your blood pressure is normal or high, Southcoast Health is here to support your health. Ask your primary care provider about a blood pressure screening today.

Southcoast Health can monitor your wellness through blood pressure screenings in Fall River, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Wareham, MA and parts of Rhode Island.