Strong Heart and Vascular Center
Heart Conditions
High Blood Pressure
What is High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the force of blood as it is pumped from the heart. When your doctor or nurse reports your blood pressure, it is described in two numbers - 120 over 60, for instance:
- Systolic (the first number): Measure of blood pressure when the heart pumps. A normal range is less than 140.
- Diastolic (the second number): Measure of blood pressure between heartbeats. A normal range is 85 or below.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is diagnosed when the systolic and diastolic numbers are consistently above the healthy range. While high blood pressure is quite common, and may sound innocuous, this condition can lead to several serious, even life-threatening, conditions.
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is often called the silent killer because often there are no symptoms. Typically it is only diagnosed when a person is under routine medical care and his/her doctor monitors blood pressure over a period of time. Occasionally, people with high blood pressure may experience headaches or extreme fatigue.
Risk Factors of High Blood Pressure
While the exact cause of high blood pressure is unknown, studies do show a number of risk factors for developing this disease:
- Smoking
- Obesity
- A diet high in fat and/or salt
- Stress
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Certain medical conditions: high cholesterol, kidney disease, stroke
Diagnosing High Blood Pressure
Since high blood pressure usually does not give any indications, the only way to diagnose it is by having your blood pressure checked regularly. While spikes in blood pressure may occur due to exercise or stress, numbers that are consistently high over a period of time should be checked by your doctor.
If your doctor determines that you do have high blood pressure, he/she will will review your medical history and perform a complete physical exam to determine if high blood pressure is affecting your overall health.
Complications of High Blood Pressure
Over time, high blood pressure can cause problems in other parts of the body because of the damage to the blood vessels. Complications may include:
- Aneurysm - high blood pressure can cause
the blood vessels to widen. When this occurs in the brain
or the
aorta, death can result.
- Stroke - blood vessels can narrow due to
high blood pressure and the accumulation of
cholesterol.
Blockage of arteries in the brain can lead to stroke.
- Kidney failure - blockage of blood vessels
in the kidneys can lead to kidney failure
- Impaired vision - blockage of blood vessels
in the eye can cause impaired vision or even blindness
- Heart failure - high blood pressure puts extra wear and tear on the heart, and can lead to heart failure
Treatment Options
There is no cure for high blood pressure, but there are options for controlling it, and preventing the more serious complications that can result. The key preventative measure you can take is to see your doctor regularly and to monitor your blood pressure. In addition, you can take the following steps to decrease your blood pressure and/or reduce your risk of high blood pressure:
- Change your diet - eat a low-sodium, low-fat
diet
- Lose weight - if you're overweight
or obese, talk with your doctor about the best plan for you
to lose the extra weight
- Exercise - daily aerobic exercise
lowers blood pressure, improves heart performance and decreases
the risk of heart attack
- Stop smoking
- Reduce stress - find ways to reduce the amount of stress or to at least find time to relax
If blood pressure continues to climb, medication may be necessary.
High blood pressure medication is usually taken for a long period
of time - possibly for the rest of your life - and regular medical
check-ups are necessary.