blood pressure
and blood glucose

Incorporate blood pressure and blood glucose levels in your health screenings and you will be more aware of risk factors for many common diseases.

Blood Pressure
After age 18, your blood pressure should be checked at least once every two years or more often if necessary for hypertension (high blood pressure) or pre-hypertension (elevated blood pressure).

Without lifestyle changes both hypertension and pre-hypertension can lead to potentially fatal diseases.

Blood Glucose
The American Diabetes Association recommends that adults age 45 years and older should have their fasting blood glucose level measured at least once every three years. If you are overweight and have one or more of the additional risk factors below, you should also get tested regardless of age.

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Family history of Diabetes
• African-American, Asian-American, Latino/Hispanic-American, Native American, or Pacific Islander decent
• History of Diabetes during pregnancy or delivering a baby over 9 pounds

If with these conditions your blood glucose levels are in the normal range, testing can be done every three years. If it is found that you have pre-diabetes, you should be checked for diabetes every one to two years.