Your heart is the main part of your circulatory system, but many other
components are essential for pumping blood through your body to help you live
and thrive. Throughout the day, the blood pressure running through your
arteries fluctuates. If the force of blood becomes too high for various
reasons, the heart must work harder to pump blood throughout the body. This
increased blood pressure is known as hypertension.
Even though an estimated 68 million Americans have high blood pressure, the
condition is not understood by most people well. By learning these key
hypertension facts and working with your doctor, you will be able to
understand, diagnose, and possibly prevent high blood pressure.
Many people believe that high blood pressure is not dangerous or not
something they need to be terribly concerned with. Unfortunately, hypertension
is very dangerous. If left untreated, high blood pressure can be
life-threatening.
Hypertension places excess pressure on your arteries, which can wear the
arteries down, causing irreversible damage. Blood cannot move freely through
weakened, narrow arteries, which increases your blood pressure even further.
Also, high blood pressure can cause weakened sections of arteries to bulge
and rupture, forming an aneurysm. If the aneurysm ruptures, you will experience
life-threatening internal bleeding.
Of course, hypertension damages the heart and brain, as well. Patients who
do not treat their high blood pressure may develop coronary artery disease,
heart disease, and even stroke.
Half of people who have untreated high blood pressure will die of heart
disease related to improper blood flow. In addition, one-third of people with
untreated hypertension will die of stroke.
Hypertension is known as the silent killer, which means you may not even
realize you have high blood pressure.
Check your blood pressure levels regularly, especially if you are an older
individual or overweight. Also, if you use drugs, tobacco products, or drink alcohol,
you will have a higher risk of developing hypertension.
On average, normal blood pressure range is 120/80 or lower. If your blood
pressure measures 130/81 or higher, you are in stage 1 hypertension.
Although headaches, nosebleeds, and nervousness are common with people who
have high blood pressure, not everyone experiences these symptoms. Other
symptoms indirectly related to high blood pressure can include bloody spots in
the eyes, dizziness, and facial flushing.
Because of the risks, treating high blood pressure is crucial. You and your
doctor work together to find the right solution for you.
In some instances, simple changes to your lifestyle will be enough to treat
hypertension and then manage healthy blood pressure levels.
Eating a heart-healthy diet is imperative if you have hypertension. You
should reduce your intake of salt, caffeine, alcohol, and saturated or trans
fats. Eat lean meats, fruit, vegetables, and non-fat dairy products.
Avoid using any tobacco products. Also, find healthy ways to cope with
stress, since increased stress and anxiety has been linked to high blood
pressure in some patients. Increasing your daily physical activity is not only
beneficial to your heart, but also for easing emotional distress.
Prescription medications may also be necessary to treat your high blood
pressure, but these medications should be used along with the above lifestyle
changes.
Diuretics, which are also known as water pills, help flush water and salt
from the kidneys, which reduces the blood pressure in the blood vessels.
Other medications that may be prescribed include beta-blockers, which
decrease vessel constriction, and vasodilators, which relax the walls of your
blood vessels. Both are effective options to ease the pressure in the blood
vessels.
For more information on hypertension, including diagnosis, prevention, and
treatment, contact Anderson Heart PC today.
