High blood pressure: here’s what you need to know

By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Feb. 20, 2023 (HealthDay News) — You’re in your doctor’s office and the nurse routinely checks your blood pressure. But your count is high, and the doctor steps in with some advice, and possibly a prescription for medication that can lower it.

So now that you have high blood pressure, what is it and what can you do about it?

THE American Heart Association (AHA) describes blood pressure as the measure of the force pumping blood through the arteries, which carry blood from the heart throughout the body.

Measured by two numbers, the top number (systolic pressure) is the force of blood when your heart is pumping, and the bottom number (diastolic pressure) is when your heart is resting and filling with blood.

Normal blood pressure can vary from individual to individual, and it can go up and down throughout the day, said Dr Michel Blah, a Johns Hopkins cardiologist. He recommended Regularly measure blood pressure at home and monitor trends. Generally, blood pressure is considered healthy when it is 120/80 or lower.

“As a doctor, I’m much more interested in what a patient’s blood pressure looks like at home, under normal conditions, than what it looks like at any given time in my office,” Blaha said. “Knowing your blood pressure over time best helps your doctor determine if you have a problem.”

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when the force of blood flow remains consistently high.

THE AHA consider high blood pressure to be any reading greater than or equal to 130/80. If your blood pressure reaches 180/120 or higher, you are in a hypertensive crisis and should call your doctor immediately.

Prolonged and uncontrolled high blood pressure can damage blood vessels and lead to complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and vision problems.

What causes arterial hypertension?

Many things can cause high blood pressure. Chronic hypertension usually develops over time due to poor diet, lack of regular exercise, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, and non-diabetes. controlled, according to the AHA.

Stress and anxiety also play a role in raising blood pressure.

In some cases, hypertension can occur during pregnancy, leading to death terms: preeclampsia, eclampsia and cerebrovascular accident. Dr AS Sarah Hallum from the University of Copenhagen said it may increase the risk of early heart disease in women.

High Blood Pressure Symptoms

According to the AHA, nearly half of the American adult population suffers from high blood pressure and is unaware that harm is being done.

Although the risk of high blood pressure increases with age, Dr. Rita Melkonian said health day news that it can also occur at a younger age in women. There are usually no signs or symptoms, hence its nickname “silent killer”. Melkonian said the best way to determine blood pressure status is to have it checked by a medical professional.

Medicines for high blood pressure

There are many ways to reduce high blood pressure. John Hopkins lists lifestyle changes as the first line of defense.

Medications may be added if lifestyle changes are not enough to maintain healthy blood pressure. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, blood pressure medication helped by :

One or more of these drugs may be needed to control blood pressure. In general, high blood pressure medications are low risk, but can cause some symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, and swelling. Medications may need to be adjusted to minimize side effects and risks, the CDC added.

How to lower high blood pressure

Lifestyle changes that can help treat high blood pressure can also help keep it from rising if started early. THE CDC lists them as exercise, a diet high in fiber, low in fat and salt, no smoking, low alcohol consumption, and maintaining a healthy weight. All this will go a long way in preventing high blood pressure.

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