ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, SportsDouble Blood Pressure Check

A new study finds checking the blood pressure in both arms could save your life.

Finding a difference in blood pressure between the left and right arm can be a sign of heart disease.

The Lancet study found that a difference in the systolic number reading... that top number... of more than 15 can indicate -- a narrowing of arteries to the legs -- decreased blood flow to the brain -- heart disease... and a 70 percent increase in your chances of dying from either heart attack or stroke.

Cardiologist, Dr. Oscar Gargein says, "You want to search for the risk factors that are associated with this, such as high blood pressure, or cigarette smoking, or high cholesterol, and treat them very aggressively."

The double reading only takes an extra-minute, and you could flag an underlying vascular problem on a seemingly healthy person.