What is hypertension?
Hypertension is a chronic medical condition that occurs when the force of the blood pumping against the walls of your arteries is too high for an extended time.
Uncontrolled hypertension damages your blood vessels, increasing your risk of more serious health problems including premature death.
What are the symptoms of hypertension?
Hypertension doesn’t present any obvious symptoms, which is why many doctors call it the “silent killer.” The only way to know if you have hypertension is to invest in preventive measures such as annual exams and blood pressure testing.
Some people do experience headaches or nosebleeds, but these symptoms usually occur once hypertension reaches a severe or life-threatening stage.
Who is at risk of developing hypertension?
Hypertension affects people of all races and genders, but certain factors may increase your risk, including:
- Being middle-aged or older
- Having family members with high blood pressure
- Being overweight
- Using tobacco
- Eating an unhealthy diet
- Living a sedentary lifestyle
- Chronic stress
You’re also more likely to develop hypertension if you drink too much alcohol, or you have a chronic medical condition like diabetes, kidney disease, or sleep apnea.
What is the process for diagnosing high blood pressure?
At Kudos Medical, diagnosing high blood pressure involves a physical exam, review of your medical history, and an in-office blood pressure screening. To take your blood pressure, your provider uses an inflatable arm cuff with a pressure measuring gauge.
Blood pressure readings feature two numbers. The top number (systolic pressure) measures the pressure of blood in your arteries when your heart beats. The bottom number (diastolic pressure) measures the pressure of blood in your arteries between beats.
You have healthy, normal blood pressure if your reading is 120/80 mm Hg or lower. You have elevated blood pressure if your systolic pressure ranges from 120-129 mm Hg and your diastolic pressure ranges from 80-89 mm Hg.
What is the process for treating high blood pressure?
The process of treating high blood pressure depends on the severity of your reading. Oftentimes, lifestyle changes like eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and losing weight are enough to keep your numbers in check.
However, if your blood pressure remains high, prescription medications like thiazide diuretics or calcium channel blockers may be necessary.
If you’re concerned about your risk of hypertension request an appointment at Kudos Medical by calling the office or booking online today.
