Should I wait to see if my high blood pressure comes down by itself?

If your blood pressure inches into the uh-oh zone (anything over 124/84 increases your chances of suffering disabilities, impotence and wrinkled skin), should you wait to see if it comes down by itself?

Wait-and-see wisdom isn't heart smart at any age, according to two reports we think should be must-reads in every doctor's office and at every kitchen table. Here's why:

• If you ignore early blood pressure increases, you ignore heart damage. The first new study explains how blood pressure "creeps-up" in your 30s, 40s or 50s and enlarges your heart, even if you're otherwise healthy. Many doctors still choose to "watch" rising blood pressure in middle-aged people whose overall risk for heart trouble looks low. You shouldn't do this -- and neither should your doctor!
• If you keep your blood pressure numbers healthy during middle age, you slash your risk for big trouble later on. The second study shows that high blood pressure at age 55 puts a guy's lifetime risk for a "heart event" at 70%, and a woman's risk at 50%. For both men and women, healthy blood pressure levels between the ages of 40 and 50 lower the odds for heart disease by nearly 50%.

Aim for what doctors recommend is the healthiest, heart-friendly blood pressure: 115/76. How? Reduce stress, eat smart and get plenty of physical activity,