One in three adults in the U.S. has high blood pressure and many don’t even know it. How can this be? Because high blood pressure rarely has any symptoms. Show
“High blood pressure or hypertension is known as a silent disease because you may not feel any symptoms at all,” says Priscilla Bullen, FNP-BC, of Riverside Primary Care Hidenwood. “It increases your risk of heart disease, heart failure, stroke and heart attack.” Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against your blood vessel walls. High blood pressure is when that force is higher than normal. It often has no signs or symptoms and can lead to other health problems if it’s not treated. Blood pressure is mostly a silent diseaseUnfortunately, high blood pressure can happen without feeling any abnormal symptoms. Moderate or severe headaches, anxiety, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, palpitations, or feeling of pulsations in the neck are some signs of high blood pressure. Often, these are late signs that high blood pressure has existed for some time, therefore annual checks are recommended for all adults. Get to know your numbersBecause there aren’t any symptoms, it’s important to have your blood pressure checked regularly. Get to know the numbers and when to get help from your doctor. Your blood pressure will have two numbers:
For example, 120/80 indicates a systolic blood pressure of 120 and a diastolic blood pressure of 80 mm/Hg. What is a normal blood pressure?Both the American Heart Association and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force have published guidelines for defining healthy and elevated blood pressure. You can follow either guidelines, depending on what you and your doctor agree is acceptable. USPSTF Guidelines for Blood Pressure
AHA Guidelines for Blood Pressure
Who is at risk for high blood pressure?Your family history, lifestyle and medications can increase the chances you’ll develop high blood pressure. Risk factors for high blood pressure include:
Unfortunately, family history is a large contributing factor. Even if you eat well, are physically active and avoid risk factors, you may still experience high blood pressure. When to see a doctorConsult your doctor if you fall in the at-risk or high blood pressure categories above. If your blood pressure is in the crisis range, contact your doctor immediately. Call 911 if you’re experiencing any other symptoms like chest pain, blurred vision or slurred speech. How is high blood pressure treated?Treatment for high blood pressure will commonly include medication and healthy lifestyle changes such as:
“Changing a few daily habits like walking more and eating less salt can bring blood pressure into normal range,” says Bullen. Do you know your numbers?Schedule an appointment with Priscilla Bullen, FNP to get to know your numbers today. High blood pressure, or hypertension, rarely has noticeable symptoms. But if untreated, it increases your risk of serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes. Around a third of adults in the UK have high blood pressure, although many will not realise it. The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure checked. What is high blood pressure?Blood pressure is recorded with 2 numbers. The systolic pressure (higher number) is the force at which your heart pumps blood around your body. The diastolic pressure (lower number) is the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels. They're both measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). As a general guide:
Blood pressure readings between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg could mean you're at risk of developing high blood pressure if you do not take steps to keep your blood pressure under control. Everyone's blood pressure will be slightly different. What's considered low or high for you may be normal for someone else. Risks of high blood pressureIf your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys and eyes. Persistent high blood pressure can increase your risk of a number of serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions, such as:
If you have high blood pressure, reducing it even a small amount can help lower your risk of these health conditions. Check your blood pressureThe only way of knowing whether you have high blood pressure is to have a blood pressure test. All adults over 40 are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every 5 years. Getting this done is easy and could save your life. You can get your blood pressure tested at a number of places, including:
You can also check your blood pressure yourself with a home blood pressure monitor. Find out more about getting a blood pressure test Things that can increase your risk of getting high blood pressureIt's not always clear what causes high blood pressure, but there are things that can increase your risk. You might be more at risk if you:
Making healthy lifestyle changes can sometimes help reduce your chances of getting high blood pressure and help lower your blood pressure if it's already high. Treatment for high blood pressureDoctors can help you keep your blood pressure to a safe level using:
What works best is different for each person. Talk to your doctor to help you decide about treatment. This patient decision aid (PDF, 132kb) can also help you to understand your treatment options. Lifestyle changes to reduce blood pressureThese lifestyle changes can help prevent and lower high blood pressure:
Some people with high blood pressure may also need to take 1 or more medicines to stop their blood pressure getting too high. Medicines for high blood pressureIf you're diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor may recommend taking 1 or more medicines to keep it under control. These come as tablets and usually need to be taken once a day. Common blood pressure medicines include:
The medicine recommended for you will depend on things like how high your blood pressure is, your age and your ethnicity. Page last reviewed: 23 October 2019 How do you feel when you have high blood pressure?Blood pressure is mostly a silent disease
Unfortunately, high blood pressure can happen without feeling any abnormal symptoms. Moderate or severe headaches, anxiety, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, palpitations, or feeling of pulsations in the neck are some signs of high blood pressure.
What is the main cause of high blood pressure?What causes high blood pressure? High blood pressure usually develops over time. It can happen because of unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as not getting enough regular physical activity. Certain health conditions, such as diabetes and having obesity, can also increase the risk for developing high blood pressure.
What are the early warning signs of high blood pressure?Signs of very high blood pressure. Severe headache.. Nosebleed.. Blurry vision.. Chest pain.. Difficulty breathing.. Confusion.. Heart palpitations.. What are the symptoms of high blood pressure in a woman?"Having high blood pressure forces your heart to pump harder, and it can also narrow and harden your arteries over time," says Dr.. Headaches.. Fatigue.. Shortness of breath.. Chest discomfort.. |
What is the symptoms of high blood pressure
Related Posts
Copyright © 2024 ketiadaan Inc.
