Most people are well aware of their numbers on the bathroom scale, even if they wish they weren’t. Yet, how many people monitor their blood pressure on a regular basis unless they already know it’s too high? Even if your blood pressure is low, it’s important to know your numbers and understand how they relate to your overall health.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious condition that increases your risk of stroke, heart attack and kidney disease. It is known as a “silent killer” because many times there are no symptoms until organ damage develops. This is why doctors suggest you have your blood pressure checked once every two years even if you fall in the normal range, and more often if you have high blood pressure.

In the United States, 30 percent of people are unaware that they have high blood pressure. What’s more, 50 percent of patients on blood pressure lowering medication are not at their recommended treatment goal.