An analysis of over one million adults shows that every 20 mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure roughly doubles the risk of dying from cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease. This association extends down to very low values, with lower generally being more favorable. Repeated or home measurements provide a more reliable picture than a single measurement taken at a doctor's office.
A blood pressure measurement is one of the few simple tests that genuinely says something about your long-term risk of cardiovascular disease. A large analysis of more than one million adults found that every 20 mmHg increase in systolic pressure roughly doubles the risk of dying from heart or cerebrovascular disease, and that relationship continues down to very low values: down to around 115/75 mmHg, lower is considered more favourable, with no point below which it stops mattering.
A single measurement does not tell the whole story. A reading taken by a doctor can come out too high simply because you are nervous (the so-called white-coat effect), and sometimes the opposite is true. Repeated measurements, or better still, taking readings at home over a few days at a quiet moment, give a far more reliable picture of your true, habitual blood pressure. When choosing a home monitor, it is worth selecting a clinically validated upper-arm model, as not every device on the market is equally accurate; independent lists of approved models do exist.
The measurement itself is completely harmless and inexpensive: at the GP, the pharmacy, or at home. What you gain from it is a signal about how your blood vessels are performing compared with people of the same age, which is useful to track as a trend over the years. What the number means for your specific situation, and whether treatment makes sense, is a conversation worth having with a doctor as soon as you notice an abnormal pattern.
Strong evidence, based on 1 source(s), including controlled or causal research.