Are we getting blood pressure all wrong? A healthcare reality check
Key Takeaways
Industry Buzz
“High blood pressure is the world’s leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.” – Luke Laffin, MD
“I typically tell my patients that blood pressure management is 70% lifestyle and 30% medications." – Luke Laffin, MD
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Just how seriously should we take blood pressure? As it turns out, its significance for overall health is greater than we may think. Tracking blood pressure over time is especially crucial, as prolonged periods of high blood pressure can pose serious risks. According to Baylor College of Medicine, hypertension “can quietly cause damage to your arteries and heart for years.”[]
Related: 29 million Americans take this daily for heart health—most don’t realize the risksTracking blood pressure information over time could be lifesaving. “High blood pressure is sometimes called a ‘silent killer,’ because it usually has no warning signs, yet it can lead to life-threatening conditions like heart attack or stroke,” writes the National Institutes of Health.[]
Continue reading for the latest insights on blood pressure measuring and tracking, and how to support patients’ heart health.
Hypertension: Not to be taken lightly
“High blood pressure is the world’s leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality,” says Dr. Luke Laffin, Co-Director of the Center for Blood Pressure Disorders at Cleveland Clinic.
While serious, hypertension is both common and treatable. Dr. Laffin notes that hypertension is “a disease of aging,” stating that many patients over age 70 have hypertension and that “it is not a personal failure” if patients need blood pressure medications as they age.
The importance of regular blood pressure tracking
Regular tracking is a powerful tool for blood pressure management. For patients with hypertension, says Dr. Laffin, blood pressure measurements taken in a clinic are not good enough. “They should also be measuring their blood pressure outside the office,” he explains.
Cardiologist Dr. Shirlene Obuobi also emphasizes the importance of regular blood pressure monitoring. In an Instagram video, Dr. Obuobi recommends that patients use a blood pressure cuff at home and keep a blood pressure log.[]
Technique: Is lying down better?
Should patients lie down for blood pressure measurements? Emerging research highlights differences in seated blood pressure measurements versus measurements taken in a supine position. A 2025 study published in JAMA Cardiology reports that “supine hypertension with or without seated hypertension was associated with increased risk of adverse cardiovascular disease events compared with seated hypertension alone.”[]
Additionally, the American Heart Association reports on research suggesting that “readings that showed high blood pressure in people who were lying down did a better job of predicting stroke, serious heart problems and death.”[]
Educating and empowering patients
In addition to taking blood pressure medications, patients can make lifestyle changes to manage hypertension. Dr. Laffin notes that for many patients, there is “not enough discussion” about these lifestyle changes. “I typically tell my patients that blood pressure management is 70% lifestyle and 30% medications,” he says.
These lifestyle changes can include losing weight, consuming a low-sodium diet, and exercising regularly, Dr. Laffin says, in addition to taking blood pressure medications as prescribed.