High Blood Pressure: The Silent Killer
High blood pressure also known as hypertension, is a leading cause and controllable risk factor for stroke and heart disease. The good news – hypertension is controllable, and with proper management, you can lower your risk.
What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is when your blood pressure, the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels, is consistently too high. The higher your blood pressure levels, the more risk you have for other health problems, such as heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
What is the cause of high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is caused by a variety of circumstances, and usually develops over time. High blood pressure can happen because of unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as not getting enough regular physical activity. Age, family history, genetics, and sex are all risk factors that cannot be changed.
What are the signs and symptoms of high blood pressure?
Most often, high blood pressure has no symptoms and many people are unaware they have it. In fact, hypertension is often referred to as the silent killer because it can damage your body and lead to other serious conditions without warning. The only method to determine whether you have high blood pressure is to measure it.
Blood pressure is usually measured at the beginning of every medical appointment as part of your vital statistics – just like height, weight, body temperature, and blood oxygen level. The medical assistant will begin by placing a cuff around your upper arm. Air is pushed into the cuff either by a machine or manual pump until it’s very tight on your arm, then the air is slowly released while the machine or a medical assistant listens with a stethoscope.
Blood pressure readings are recorded as two numbers with a slash in between (ie. 120/80) and expressed as the top number over the bottom number (ie. 120 over 80).
What do blood pressure numbers mean?
Blood pressure is measured using two numbers:
The first number, called systolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. Typically, more attention is given to systolic blood pressure (the first number) as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease for people over 50.
The second number, called diastolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats.
According to the CDC, a normal blood pressure level is less than 120/80 mmHg. Knowing your blood pressure numbers is the first step to maintaining the health of your heart.
What if I am diagnosed with high blood pressure?
Depending on how high your blood pressure is and whether it’s the upper number, lower number, or both, your healthcare provider will work with you to determine a plan for getting your blood pressure to a healthy range. Initially, this might mean more frequent visits with your provider to monitor the effects medication and/or lifestyle changes have on your blood pressure.
NOAH recommends patients who have high blood pressure or are being treated for high blood pressure be evaluated by their primary care provider at least once every six months
What can I do to prevent or manage high blood pressure?
Making lifestyle modifications can prevent high blood pressure in many people and/or help those who are borderline for hypertension get their levels to a healthy range.
- Get at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week (about 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week)
- Don’t smoke
- Eat a healthy diet, including limiting sodium (salt) and alcohol
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Manage stress
Schedule an appointment with your NOAH provider right away if you think you have high blood pressure or if you’ve been told you have high blood pressure but do not have it under control.
