Everything you wanted to know about high blood pressure

Hypertension: What You Need to Know as You Age

Approximately 75 million American adults have high blood pressure — that is around one in three American adults. Anyone may develop high blood pressure, including children. It dramatically increases the risk for stroke and cardiac diseases, the first as well as the third leading causes of death in the United States.

People with high blood pressure (hypertension) are at a greater risk for a host of medical issues, including heart failure and stroke. Despite the severe health risks it presents, hypertension still goes unnoticed or untreated by those who have it. Just don't miss a beat when it comes to your blood pressure. Managing high blood pressure is crucial, so visit your High Blood Pressure doctor near Lockport regularly. 

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure (also referred to as HBP, or hypertension) is when the force of blood flowing through your blood vessels, is consistently too high.

There are two types of high blood pressure.

Primary hypertension. This also is called essential hypertension. It is called when elevated blood pressure has no known cause. It is the most prevalent form of hypertension. Blood pressure of this sort typically takes several years to develop. This undoubtedly comes from your lifestyle, your environment, and how your body changes as you age.

Secondary hypertension. That is when a health condition or medication causes high blood pressure.

Symptoms of high blood pressure

Most individuals with elevated blood pressure have no symptoms. That's why it is often called "the silent killer." It's very important to get your blood pressure tested regularly.

Many people with elevated blood pressure suffer headaches, nosebleeds, or shortness of breath. Such symptoms typically arise after blood pressure has reached a hazardously high level for some time.

What causes high blood pressure?

Medicine, food, lifestyle, age, and genetics can cause high blood pressure. Your doctor will help you find out what could trigger yours. Common factors that can cause hypertension include:

  • A diet is rich in salt, cholesterol, and fat.
  • Chronic disorders, including issues with kidneys and hormones, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
  • Family history, mainly when high blood pressure is on your parents or other close relatives.
  • Lack of physical exertion.
  • Older age (the earlier you're, the more likely your blood pressure is to be high).
  • Obesity.
  • Many drugs on birth control.
  • Stress 
  • Using cigarettes or drink too much alcohol.

How is high blood pressure diagnosed?

Most frequently, blood pressure is measured using a system known as a sphygmomanometer consisting of a stethoscope, arm brace, dial, pump, and valve. You can get your blood pressure measured by a High Blood Pressure doctor near Lockport. The nurse or doctor gets two numbers that make up your blood pressure. The number on the top is your systolic reading (the peak blood pressure when your heart is squeezing blood out). The lowest or bottom number is your diastolic reading (pressure as blood fills the heart). You can even hear the doctor or nurse say that blood pressure is "130 over 90." The higher the blood pressure, the more likely you need it to be tested. At least once every two years, after age 18, get your blood pressure checked. Do it Use so more often if you have had hypertension in the past.

High blood pressure treatment

Treatment usually begins with adjustments that you can make to your lifestyle to help reduce your blood pressure and decrease your heart disease risk. Therefore, your doctor can prescribe medication to lower your blood pressure. These are called antihypertensive medicines. You can book an online appointment with the doctors of Suburban Wellness through PatientMD from the comfort of your home, office. The goal of the high blood pressure treatment is to reduce your blood pressure to normal levels. Your doctor may prescribe medicine that's easy to take, keeping in mind the side effects. This treatment is highly successful. If only medicine regulates your blood pressure, you'll need to take medicine for the rest of your life. More than one dose is usually necessary to help regulate blood pressure. Should not stop taking the medicinal product without talking to your doctor. Otherwise, your risk of having a stroke or heart attack can increase.

You must keep track of your blood pressure. Get your blood pressure tested on your doctor's appointment schedule. You may want to find out how to check your blood pressure at home. It will help the doctor. Your doctor may help you with this.