What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure means that your blood is exerting too much pressure on your arterial walls. Your blood pressure is a measurement of two things: The amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of pressure it exerts on your arteries.
The reason behind the staggering numbers of adults with high blood pressure in the United States (more than 100 million) is that the American Heart Association changed the definition of high blood pressure from anything over 140/90 to any reading over 130/80.
There’s a good reason why the AMA made this move — high blood pressure is a precursor to a number of serious heart conditions, many of which are fatal. In fact, heart disease remains the No. 1 cause of death among both men and women in the United States.
The good news is that by lowering these numbers, it allows you to take the necessary steps to reverse your risks.
What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is also called the “silent killer” because there are usually no outward symptoms of the condition until heart disease has already taken hold. That said, all it takes is a simple measurement, which the team at Integrative Primary Care routinely performs during each of your visits.
What causes high blood pressure?
There are a number of factors that can lead to high blood pressure, with the following leading the charge:
- Aging
- Race (hypertension is more common among African-Americans)
- Carrying extra weight
- Lack of exercise
- Too much sodium (salt)
- Too little potassium
- Stress
- Family history
These risk factors are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the many circumstances that can bring on hypertension, but they represent the most common culprits.
What are the treatments for high blood pressure?
If the doctors at Integrative Primary Care diagnose you with high blood pressure, they tackle the problem from several angles, including:
- Medication therapy
- Weight loss
- Exercise
- Lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking
- Changes in your diet, such as limiting salt
The doctors at Integrative Primary Care also monitor your situation closely to ensure that your heart health is well looked after, making any necessary adjustments along the way for better results.
To take charge of your heart health, call Integrative Primary Care or use the online booking tool to set up an appointment.
