What is hypertension?
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common condition in which the force of blood against artery walls is too high. When blood pressure stays high over the long term, it may eventually result in serious health problems.
In many high blood pressure cases, the arteries are narrowed due to plaque buildup, forcing your heart to work harder to circulate blood throughout your body. This increased resistance in your arteries forces your heart to pump harder, which puts extra stress on your heart.
It’s common not to experience any warning signs or symptoms when you have hypertension. The only way to monitor your blood pressure and ensure that it’s within a safe range is through blood pressure checks. That’s why routine checkups with the providers at MS Family Medicine Healthcare PC are instrumental in keeping high blood pressure under control.
What are the symptoms of hypertension?
Many adults don’t experience any symptoms at all until their blood pressure reaches a dangerously high level, and even then, some people are symptom-free. Some men and women get headaches or nosebleeds, or they may feel short of breath, but these rarely occur until your blood pressure is dangerously high.
What are the risk factors for hypertension?
Hypertension has many different risk factors, many of which can be controlled through a combination of diet, exercise, and medication. Your ethnicity, family history, and being older may contribute to increasing your risk. Other factors can increase your risk of developing hypertension, including:
- Obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Lack of vitamin D
- Smoking or tobacco use
- High-sodium diet
- Low-potassium diet
- High-stress levels for prolonged periods
- Regularly consuming too much alcohol
- Other chronic health conditions
- Pregnancy (usually a temporary risk factor)
Making lifestyle modifications can help lower your risk of developing high blood pressure or even bring elevated blood pressure levels back into a healthy range.
How is hypertension treated?
The best way to prevent complications or a life-threatening situation is to have your blood pressure checked regularly. The patient-centered team at MS Family Medicine Healthcare PC works with you to develop a health plan to keep your blood pressure within safe levels. Ideally, you want your blood pressure to remain below 120/80.
If your physician determines your blood pressure isn’t within a safe range, your treatment may include:
- Making dietary changes
- Getting more exercise
- Quitting smoking
- Taking medications to help control your blood pressure
The providers at MS Family Medicine Healthcare PC take a comprehensive approach to treat hypertension, considering your overall health and lifestyle. They work with you to create an individual preventive or treatment plan that’s most effective for your specific concerns.
Getting your blood pressure under control could save your life, so schedule an appointment at MS Family Medicine Healthcare PC by calling the office nearest you or booking online today.
