Did you know that one in every three Americans suffer from high blood pressure?
Also referred to as hypertension, high blood pressure refers to the force with which the blood flows against the lining of our arteries. One of the greatest misconceptions about hypertension is that men are more prone to getting it. In reality, it is the opposite. Women are at a higher risk of developing hypertension when compared to men.
How do you know if you have high blood pressure?
It is very difficult to identify whether one suffers from high blood pressure or not since there are no visible symptoms. Thankfully, medical advancements over the years have made it possible to find out if one suffers from it right at home.
You are suffering from hypertension if your blood pressure readings are consistently higher than 90 to 140 over a few weeks. You may also be suffering from hypertension if one of these numbers is higher than what is considered normal for a number of weeks.
High blood pressure symptoms
There is a reason why it is often termed as the silent killer; people who have been suffering from it for many years won’t know of it until they get their blood pressure checked. However, some distinctive symptoms do develop in people suffering from severe cases of high blood pressure.
These may include:
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
High blood pressure causes
There is no absolute evidence as to what causes hypertension. However, medical research so far suggests that it has everything to do with our lifestyles choices. You will be at a higher risk of hypertension if:
- You take in too much sodium
- You don’t consume sufficient fruits and vegetables
- You don’t exercise regularly
- You are obese according to your BMI
- You consume excess alcohol
Other factors such as age, ethnic origin, or family history may also cause hypertension.
High blood pressure risk factors
You may experience complications if your blood pressure remains higher than normal for some time. These complications may result in diseases and disorders as you age. Some high risk factors may even involve complications like:
- Aneurysms: abnormal bulges formed in the artery until they rupture
- Cognitive changes
- Heart attack
- Chronic kidney disease
- Eye damage
- Heart failure
- Stroke
- Peripheral artery disease
High blood pressure treatment
If you are looking for answers to the question, “How do I lower my blood pressure?” there are many different ways it can be treated. Treatment can vary from taking prescribed medication to making lifestyle changes. We always try to encourage all our patients to rely on lifestyle changes rather than on medications as it shows positive results over time. Here’s how you can do it:
- Take up an exercise routine
- Watch your waistline and lose weight if needed
- Quit smoking
- Eat cleanly
- Lower sodium content in your food
- Cut down on caffeine
- Keep a close eye on your alcohol consumption
- Manage your stress levels
- Visit a doctor every month and monitor your blood pressure levels at home on a weekly basis
If you think you may have high blood pressure, Reynolds Rapid Care can help. No appointment necessary. We gladly accept walk-ins!