Hypertension, the medical term for high blood pressure, is considered a chronic disease, and it’s an issue that all Americans should be aware of. Kadie E. Leach, MD, works with patients from Lanham, Maryland, and beyond to manage high blood pressure and bring those readings back down to normal levels.
If you have hypertension, or if you’re unsure of your blood pressure status, your first step should be a visit to Dr. Leach to better understand your current blood pressure and how it relates to your overall health and wellness. From there, you can work to improve or maintain healthy blood pressure.
Let’s start with an important fact: hypertension doesn’t always cause a clear set of symptoms. In many cases, the first indication that someone has high blood pressure is a serious health event like a heart attack or stroke.
This is why hypertension is often referred to as a “silent killer.” It can develop gradually and cause serious problems long before you’re aware that your blood pressure has risen to dangerous levels.
Each time your heart beats, it pumps blood through your arteries, which creates pressure against the arterial walls. Blood pressure is measured both during a heartbeat and in the pause between heartbeats.
The most common cause of high blood pressure is plaque buildup on your artery walls. This narrows the blood vessels and limits the volume of blood that can pass through, making your heart work harder than usual to keep blood flowing throughout your body.
Again, not everyone with high blood pressure will have clear symptoms, and when symptoms do appear, they can be easily dismissed as something else.
Here are some changes you might notice if your blood pressure is higher than it should be:
As you can see, these changes can easily be brushed aside as one-time anomalies or assumed to be linked to something else, like poor sleep or a cold.
Checking your blood pressure is a fast and easy process. Blood pressure screening is part of nearly every interaction with a health professional, and for good reason. Identifying high blood pressure can help you begin a treatment plan that can reduce your readings and help prevent serious health outcomes.
But you don’t need to come in to see Dr. Leach every time you want to check your blood pressure. You can buy many at-home blood pressure monitors, including very affordable options.
The best way to stay on top of your blood pressure is to check it at the same time each day. Sit relatively still for about five minutes before using your blood pressure monitor, and avoid crossing your legs or bending at the waist. Follow the instructions provided with your monitor to get the most accurate results.
Track your readings in a notebook or with an online notes app. Health tracking apps can also store your blood pressure readings over time. This gives you important data to share with Dr. Leach during your next visit.
If you have additional questions or concerns about blood pressure and your overall health, call Kadie E. Leach, MD, to book a visit. We offer online booking that’s available around the clock, but you can always call our office to speak with a member of our administrative staff.
