Blood pressure control in U.S. adults worsened during the pandemic, according to data published in the journal Circulation in December 2021. Compared to pre-pandemic levels, systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) during the pandemic, measured from April 2020 to December 2020, rose an average of 1.10 to 2.50 mm Hg. Diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) rose an average of 0.14 to 0.53 mm Hg. While those increases may not sound like much at first glance, they’re quite meaningful: Just a 2.0 mm Hg increase in systolic pressure is associated with an increased risk of dying prematurely from a stroke or heart disease.

In the study, researchers from the Cleveland Clinic and Quest Diagnostics analyzed the blood pressure levels of nearly half a million mostly middle-aged men and women who participated in an employee wellness program before and during the pandemic. Each participant’s blood pressure was measured every year from 2018 through 2020.

The researchers said the rise in blood pressure could be associated with emotional stress and unhealthy behaviors during the pandemic, such as a sedentary lifestyle, poor eating and sleeping habits, increased alcohol consumption, missed routine medical appointments, and decreased medication adherence.

Elevated blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic, was more common in women than in men. Older participants saw an uptick in systolic blood pressure levels while younger participants had greater increases in diastolic readings.

Controlling blood pressure is important for everyone: Untreated high blood pressure can lead to a stroke, a heart attack, heart failure, vision loss, and other dangerous conditions. The American Heart Association recommends keeping your blood pressure below 120/80.