In the past, guidance from health professionals varied by age and gender. New data has led this guidance to be updated to state that normal blood pressure for all adults is less than 120/80 mmHg.

You should have your blood pressure measured at least once per year if you don’t have risk factors for high blood pressure. If you do have risk factors, your blood pressure should be measured at least every six months, and more often if your blood pressure is elevated.

Heart disease runs in families, so knowing your family history is a good first step. It’s also important to get an annual health screening and talk to a professional.

Take your prescribed medications for heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Eat a heart-healthy diet and exercise. And if you smoke, think seriously about quitting.

You can’t go wrong with fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, nuts, and beans. Generally, aim for high-protein, high-fiber, less-processed foods with lower sodium and less saturated fat.

Try to avoid foods that are highly processed, fried, high in sugar, and high in sodium.

Men and women with diabetes often have similar symptoms: fatigue, weight change, thirst, frequent urination, and more.

But some are unique to women — like candida infections, UTIs, and an increased risk of coronary heart disease. According to the CDC, diabetes is more likely to raise a woman’s risk of heart disease than a man’s.

Oftentimes there are no symptoms in people with high blood pressure, even at dangerously high levels. That’s why it's especially important to get yours checked.

However, people with high blood pressure have reported headaches, changes to their vision, flushing, chest pain, and shortness of breath.

There are many different causes of and risk factors that contribute to high cholesterol. Some of these are things you can control; others, you can’t.

You may be more likely to have high cholesterol if you eat a diet high in saturated fat, are overweight, smoke tobacco, drink alcohol, and do not exercise. Cholesterol levels may also be influenced by your genetics, age, medications you’re taking, or medical conditions you’re managing.