High blood pressure, a common condition, rarely has noticeable symptoms, which make the condition difficult to identify, and that is why many people don't know they have it. The best way to find out whether you have the condition is to have your blood pressure（BP） checked with a monitor.
This is important because spotting any problems as early as possible reduces the risk of complications（并发症），which include cardiovascular disease such as stroke（中风），heart attack and heart failure, and kidney disease.
So how often should we check your blood pressure to find out whether you have the condition?
Dr Sarah Brewer, medical director of Healthspan, said if you haven91 had your blood pressure checked in the last year, make this a priority.
She explained, "If the reading is below 130/80 mmHg, then you go forward and have your blood pressure checked at least once every 5 years as it tends to increase slowly with age. If your BP is on the high side of normal （130/85mmHg to 139/89mmHg） or if you are aged 40 or over, it's best to have an annual check. If your blood pressure is 140/90mmHg or higher, see your doctor for advice on high blood pressure."
How often should you check your blood pressure if your BP is high?
If you have hypertension（高血压），check your blood pressure as often as your doctor tells you to, said Dr Brewer.
She added, "Guidelines suggest your doctor review you every 3 to 4 months until your blood pressure is well controlled. Once your blood pressure is stable on medication, you may be reviewed less often, every 6 months or annually. It's a good idea to check your blood pressure with a home monitor so you can ensure it isn't increasing or affected by changes in diet, lifestyle and stress?"
【小题1】Why are many people unaware they have high blood pressure based on the passage?| A．Because its symptoms are difficult to identify. |
| B．Because they don't consider high blood pressure risky. |
| C．Because the way to identify high blood pressure is not found yet. |
| D．Because it is difficult to get a monitor used to check blood pressure. |
| A．it is impossible to spot it as time goes by |
| B．patients won't have to see a doctor regularly after that |
| C．uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to serious health problems |
| D．it will take doctors less money to treat patients with high BP by doing that |
| A．A 41-year -old adult should have BP checked at least once a month. |
| B．BP will never change if you have it checked with a monitor. |
| C．It is good for you to consult a doctor if your BP is 140/90 mmHg or higher. |
| D．You don't have to worry about BP if your age is below 40. |
| A．Health. | B．Style. | C．Life. | D．Sport. |
