High Blood Pressure

What is high blood pressure?

Every time your heart beats, it pumps blood through your arteries, veins, and capillaries. That force puts pressure on the walls of those vessels, which is measured in two ways. 

Your systolic pressure is the force placed on vessel walls during heartbeats. Your diastolic pressure is the force placed on vessel walls in the rest between heartbeats. The first number in your blood pressure reading is the systolic pressure; the second is the diastolic pressure. 

Normal blood pressure is a systolic reading of less than 120 and diastolic less than 80. Once you reach a reading of 130/80, your blood pressure is too high, and you should take steps to lower your readings. 

Why is high blood pressure a problem?

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a serious health issue. The condition places undue pressure on many of your organs and systems and can cause widespread health problems. 

Among the risks associated with high blood pressure are heart disease, stroke, aneurysm, kidney disease, vision loss, sexual dysfunction, and much more. To make matters worse, hypertension often presents no clear signs or symptoms until a serious complication arises. That’s why high blood pressure is often referred to as a “silent killer.”

What are the treatments for high blood pressure?

Your practitioner creates a customized care plan designed around your unique health needs and lifestyle. Medication may play a role in your treatment, especially in the early stages, to bring your readings down quickly. 

There are many different types of medications that can help, including:

• Diuretics
• Central agonists
• Vasodilators
• Beta-blockers and alpha-blockers
• Calcium-channel blockers
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
• Angiotensin receptor blockers

Many patients need a combination of drugs to manage their high blood pressure, and your medication plan will likely change over time. 

What can I do to manage my high blood pressure?

Lifestyle modifications can go a long way toward bringing your blood pressure under control. There are many things you can do at home to manage hypertension. 

Losing weight is a great place to start if you’re carrying extra pounds. Dietary improvements, such as reducing sodium, avoiding highly processed foods, and adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet, is another way to bring your blood pressure under control. Reducing alcohol consumption can also help. 

Increasing your activity level will also help. Find a way to incorporate exercise into your daily routines. You don’t have to join a gym or make sweeping changes; simply taking a long walk can have a positive impact.    

To learn more about how to manage your high blood pressure, call the medical team at IAM Healthy or schedule an appointment online.