Hypertension

What is hypertension, and how does it develop?

Hypertension is the medical term used to refer to high blood pressure. The best way to understand hypertension is to think about how your heart moves blood throughout your body. 

Each time your heart beats, it pumps oxygenated blood into your arteries, which transports that blood to all areas of your body. This pumping action creates pressure on the walls of your arteries. That pressure is measured both during each heartbeat (systolic) and in the pause between heartbeats (diastolic). 

High blood pressure happens at a measurement higher than 120/80 (systolic/diastolic). Once you reach a measure higher than 130/80, you are considered to have hypertension. Measures above 180/120 are considered a medical emergency and require immediate care. 

What are the health risks of hypertension?

It’s difficult to overstate the health risks linked to hypertension. High blood pressure can affect many aspects of your health. Even worse, hypertension doesn’t produce apparent symptoms. The first sign that you have high blood pressure could be a serious health problem like a heart attack or stroke. 

Additional health issues linked to high blood pressure include:

• Aneurysm
• Metabolic syndrome
• Kidney problems
• Vision problems
• Cognitive dysfunction
• Dementia
• Peripheral artery disease

There’s a reason why hypertension is often referred to as a “silent killer.” It’s important to know your readings and take steps to keep your blood pressure in a healthy range. 

What can I do to reduce my blood pressure and improve hypertension?

Blood pressure screening is part of routine health care and happens during every visit to Empowered Health and Wellness. If you learn you have high blood pressure, a customized treatment plan will follow. 

Some people rely on medication to help manage their blood pressure. This can be especially helpful if you have extremely high blood pressure or more complex health needs. There are many different medications to choose from that work in a variety of different ways. 

Lifestyle modification is a powerful tool for managing blood pressure. The choices you make each day regarding diet and exercise have a direct effect on your blood pressure. Making even minimal changes can yield impressive improvements. Emily is happy to work with you to structure changes that are easily sustainable. 

When you’re ready to learn more about managing and avoiding hypertension, schedule a visit at Empowered Health and Wellness by calling in or booking online.