Understanding High Blood Pressure

To understand why hypertension can be dangerous, it’s helpful to understand what blood pressure means. In simple terms, blood pressure is the amount of blood pumped when the heart beats, along with the resistance of blood flow through the arteries.

A person’s blood pressure reading is created by measuring two numbers: the systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Systolic pressure measures the force in the arteries when the heart pumps, while diastolic pressure measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests.

These readings are typically notated as 120 systolic over 80 diastolic, or 120/80. A person’s blood pressure will fluctuate throughout the day, but continuous blood pressure over 130/80 is considered high, and the patient can be diagnosed with hypertension. Hypertension puts a person at an elevated risk of heart disease, stroke, and other life-threatening complications.

Most people with high blood pressure do not experience noticeable symptoms. Some patients experience headaches or nosebleeds, but those symptoms usually occur once blood pressure has reached a life-threatening level.

Recognizing Risk Factors

Because high blood pressure doesn’t always create symptoms, many people live with the condition for years without treating it. Doctors use risk factors to identify patients who have a greater chance of developing hypertension. Lifestyle, genetics, and other health conditions can raise a person’s risk of developing high blood pressure.

Risk factors include:

• Having diabetes, kidney disease, or sleep apnea
• Eating an unhealthy diet and foods with high salt content
• Inactivity, obesity, and stress
• Using alcohol and tobacco regularly
• Having a family history of high blood pressure
• Excessive use of certain medication such as NSAIDS or cough/cold medicines

Another important risk factor is age. A person’s blood pressure usually rises as they get older, and about 9 out of 10 Americans will develop hypertension during their lifetimes. Older adults should receive regular blood pressure tests to identify hypertension as soon as possible.

Diagnosis and Treatment Options

While anyone can test their blood pressure at home (and at-home blood pressure monitors can be extremely useful for patients), hypertension can not be self-diagnosed. People who are at high risk of developing high blood pressures should schedule regular check-ups with their doctors. As noted above, the condition can lead to more serious health issues such as arrhythmia, heart attack, heart failure, or stroke, but medical treatments can successfully reduce a person’s blood pressure to a safe level.

After receiving an official diagnosis, treatment options for a person experiencing high blood pressure include:

• Medications
• Modifying their diet to be more heart-healthy
• Reducing the use of alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine
• Getting regular exercise
• Stress management

Prescription blood pressure medications include diuretics, which help the body eliminate excess sodium, and beta-blockers, which reduce the patient’s heart rate. Doctors may also prescribe ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers; both of these drugs relax the blood vessels, allowing blood to move more freely. Other classes of drugs include alpha blockers, calcium channel blockers, and combination therapies that utilize several different drugs.

Some people also take health supplements and use complementary therapies like yoga and acupuncture. Patients should always discuss these options with their doctors — some supplements may interfere with hypertension medications or cause dangerous side effects. With that said, many physicians recommend certain complementary therapies, particularly activities that reduce stress.

Doctors may also recommend that their patients take regular measurements with blood pressure monitors. These devices allow people to comfortably test their blood pressure at home. However, they’re not intended as a substitute for regular check-ups.

Online Resources for High Blood Pressure

Online resources offer a convenient way to learn more about treatment options and to learn more about hypertension. Some sites can help people find affordable monitoring equipment and stress management tools, which can aid in the treatment of high blood pressure.

When researching, patients should always look at information from multiple websites, particularly when evaluating products. It’s also important to discuss information with a qualified medical professional. Through careful research, patients can find ways to address high blood pressure, allowing them to live normal, healthy lives.