Doctors could do a better job of screening patients for high blood pressure and helping them maintain better control of the problem, according to a study published in May.

In the study, researchers looked at data from a national survey that assessed medical care in private physicians’ offices around the country. They found that doctors only measured adult patients’ blood pressure during 56 percent of visits in general and during 93 percent of visits with patients with hypertension, another name for high blood pressure. Patients seeing a doctor besides a family care provider or cardiologist were much more likely to not be screened for high blood pressure.

In addition, the study found that in patients being treated for hypertension, in only 39 percent of visits were they at their recommended blood pressure goals. Patients with other medical conditions aside from hypertension were more likely to not have their blood pressure properly controlled.

Many specialists don’t seem to think they need to measure patients’ blood pressure, but because the odds that doctors will fail to notice cases of hypertension are so high, they need to screen patients whenever possible, one of the researchers told the media.

Your health care provider should check your blood pressure at least once every two years, and more often if necessary, according to the American Heart Association. If your doctor hasn’t checked yours lately, ask for a blood pressure screening today.

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