Is Your High Blood Pressure Lower Than You Think?

High blood pressure is epidemic. (If four people are having dinner and they're all old enough to drive, at least one is being treated for hypertension and another likely has it. If they're all older than 65, two or three of them have high blood pressure.)

Or not. There's new evidence that up to 25% of people being treated for hypertension don't have it. Why the misdiagnosis? Blood pressure monitoring can be inaccurate.

You've likely heard of "white coat hypertension," the blood pressure jump you get just from being around docs. That's only part of what can mess up blood pressure readings. Rushing, crossing your legs, a full bladder, talking, and having coffee, cola, alcohol, food, or tobacco within 30 minutes of being cuffed (the list goes on) can affect your readings, too.

The best way to check your blood pressure is to wear an ambulatory blood pressure monitor for 24 hours. This hasn't caught on because the gizmos cost around $2,500 for a professional model (i.e., what your doc would loan you). However, recent data shows these are real money-savers and potential life-savers: Having a normal blood pressure 'round the clock is vital to a young, healthy you.

If you hate taking blood pressure medications or suspect your numbers aren't accurate, talk to your doc. There may already be an ambulatory "loaner" available. Don't be surprised if you're younger and healthier than you think.

If your blood pressure is high or you want to keep it down, use these strategies:

• Eat right. Here are 12 foods to help lower your blood pressure.
• Sip right. Learn why giving up soda is good for your blood pressure.
• Cook right. Check out Dr. Mike's cheat sheet for low-sodium cooking.

Use this guide to help you discuss blood pressure with your doc.