Stop Ignoring Your Blood Pressure
3/3/2026
By: Dana Pillans, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC
A common comment that I hear from patients after taking their blood pressure is, “Well, that’s good for me.”
A patient’s blood pressure might be 157/92, and they tell me, “That’s good for me.”
No. It’s not.
According to the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, normal blood pressure is less than 120/80. Readings consistently above 130/80 are considered elevated or high. A blood pressure of 157/92 is not “borderline.” It is high.
High blood pressure does not become normal just because you’ve had it for years. It does not become safe because you feel fine. It does not adjust itself to what you are “used to.”
Nearly half of adults have high blood pressure (48.1%, 119.9 million) according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 1 in 4 adults with high blood pressure has their blood pressure under control (22.5%, 27.0 million).
High blood pressure increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and heart failure. You may feel completely fine, but damage is happening quietly over time.
That is why high blood pressure is often called the “silent killer." Most people do not feel symptoms until serious complications develop.
The good news is that it is treatable.
Lifestyle changes matter: less salt, fewer processed foods, more movement, better sleep and weight management. Sometimes medication is necessary. Taking medication is not a failure. It is protection.
If your provider tells you your blood pressure is high, don’t dismiss it. Don’t compare it to what it “usually runs.” Ask what your goal should be and what steps you need to take.
Feeling fine today does not guarantee you will feel fine tomorrow.
Protect your future self.
Dana Pillans, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC sees patients at Streetman Primary Clinic. Schedule your appointment today by calling (903) 602-7324 or schedule online at https://shorturl.at/eBgIB.
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