Nearly one-third of Americans have high blood pressure, and if left untreated, it can lead to stroke, stiffness of the heart over time and an enlarged heart. A new study from a team of University of Virginia nurses headed by Melly Turner, R.N., shows that when patients have their blood pressure taken immediately after arriving in the exam room and sitting on an examination table, systolic blood pressure can be an average of 14 points higher than when sitting in a chair with their back supported and feet flat on the floor. This can mean the difference between a clean bill of health and an inaccurate diagnosis. Full story.

U.Va. Health System

When is the “right” time to start a family? ”It’s an individual decision,” said University of Virginia economist Amalia Miller (right). “Women need to know what’s best for them, what their values are.” But women who delay motherhood by as little as one year could see greater financial gain, according to Miller’s new study, “The Effects of Motherhood Timing on Career Path.” Miller’s examination of the effects of motherhood delay on the career earnings of women in their 20s and early 30s shows that on average a woman in this age group will earn 10 percent more over her lifetime if she delays motherhood for just one year. Full story.

Oscar