Health insurance news - Measuring blood on both arms could be beneficial

Researchers have found that a difference found between your right and left arm could leave health insurance customers at an increased risk of dying from heart and circulatory disease.

Scientists found that a difference in systolic blood pressure between arms was associated with an increased risk of peripheral vascular disease, which is the hardening of the arteries that supply blood to both the legs and feet.

Senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation Natasha Stewart said theoretically measuring blood pressure on both arms is a quick and simple task but more research is required to see whether this idea could become standard procedure.

"It's very important that other risk factors apart from high blood pressure, are taken into account to establish whether doctors need to take a closer look at someone's heart disease risk," she continued.

Research earlier this month suggested that medical insurance subscribers taking aspirin in order to prevent a heart attack or stroke could be doing more harm than good.