Medically reviewed by faculty at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health

Timothy Gower is an award-winning journalist who writes about health and medicine. His work has appeared in more than two dozen major magazines and newspapers, including Prevention, Reader’s Digest, and the Los Angeles Times.

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  How to Buy a Home Blood Pressure Monitor

  by Tim Gower

  Home blood pressure monitors provide a better snapshot of your average blood pressure level than office measurements do. They are available for purchase in drugstores or online, and some insurance plans may cover the cost.

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  Do You Have ‘Salt Sensitivity’?

  by Tim Gower

  This trait may raise your risk of heart disease, even if you don’t have high blood pressure (hypertension). Here’s what researchers know—and don’t know—about it.

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  Ask the Experts

  What’s in a Flu Shot?

  by Tim Gower

  Learn what goes into the annual flu vaccine, plus how to choose which version of the vaccine is right for you.