Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is typically a chronic condition that is related to the heart and circulatory system. Many people are aware that having high blood pressure is not good for their health but they may not fully understand why. Likewise, many people are not even aware that they have high blood pressure or are at risk of developing it due to the silent symptoms.
What is hypertension?
Hypertension or high blood pressure occurs when the force of the blood flowing through the body’s blood vessels is too great. Blood pressure naturally rises and lowers throughout the day depending on many factors such as physical activity, stress, fluid levels and medications one may be taking. However, if the blood pressure is consistently too high, this is typically called hypertension.
High blood pressure puts stress on many body systems including the heart, kidneys, and vision; this can lead to blood clots, heart failure, kidney failure, vision loss and sexual dysfunction. According to the American Heart Association (AHA) “nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure.”
Why is hypertension called the Silent Killer?
Even though high blood pressure is a fairly common condition, many people don’t know they even have it. The early signs of hypertension may often be ignored, confused for something else, or you may not have any symptoms. Therefore, some people may be experiencing dangerously high blood pressure levels for an extended period of time. This can damage vital organs like the heart and kidneys and even cause fatal incidents like a heart attack or stroke. Hypertension often develops slowly, over time which contributes to the symptoms being missed or overlooked. For these reasons, hypertension has been dubbed the “Silent Killer.”
What can be done to prevent it?
There are three key things that can help prevent hypertension and suffering complications.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight and following a balanced, low sodium diet can reduce your risks of developing hypertension.
- Avoid processed foods
- Select lean proteins over red meat
- Increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables
Get screened regularly. It is important to have your blood pressure checked at least once a year by your health care provider. You can also check your own blood pressure. Click here for a video on how to properly evaluate your blood pressure from home. Review this chart to know what your numbers mean!
Know the common signs and symptoms. Hypertension can be a symptomless condition. Therefore, it is important to seek medical attention for elevated blood pressure even if you feel “fine.” In addition, talk with your healthcare provider if you notice headaches, dizziness, nose bleeds, vision changes or facial flushing.
How is it treated?
Hypertension may not completely go away or be “cured.” However, it can be managed, with guidance from your healthcare provider, to help prevent further complications such as heart or kidney failure. The treatment for high blood pressure often includes lifestyle modifications including weight loss (if appropriate), exercise and dietary modifications. It is commonly recommended to engage in 150 minutes of physical activity each week. This can be divided up to accommodate your schedule and lifestyle. Lowering your salt or sodium intake has also been shown to help improve blood pressure management. The DASH Diet emphasizes foods high in potassium, calcium, magnesium and fiber as these nutrients help lower blood pressure.
In addition, a healthcare provider may prescribe medication to help lower the blood pressure. These medications work in a variety of ways including relaxing the blood vessels and lowering sodium and fluid levels in the blood. It may also be necessary to prescribe medications such as blood thinners and statins to help control cholesterol and lower the risk of blood clots.
If you are working to better manage hypertension, following a more “heart-healthy lifestyle” can prevent high blood pressure. Get started today! Schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider to discuss your blood pressure levels. Or try out one of the healthy eating tips mentioned above!