High blood pressure is a serious health issue that too many people don’t take seriously. That’s part of why May has been designated as National High Blood Pressure Month. The office of Kadie E. Leach, MD, is pleased to share the following information about when you should be concerned about your high blood pressure and what you can do to protect your health.
No matter how healthy you are, how great you feel, your age, sex, or health history, you need to know your blood pressure readings. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is widely referred to as a “silent killer” because for many, the first indication they have high blood pressure is a serious health problem.
Don’t let something as serious as a heart attack, stroke, or vision loss be the first time you pay attention to your blood pressure. Few health markers are easier to assess than blood pressure. It only takes a couple of minutes to gather your reading during a routine physical exam. There’s no blood draw, no pain, and no special preparation on your part.
You can also purchase an at-home blood pressure monitor to track your readings on your own between office visits.
A blood pressure reading has two numbers: systolic (top) and diastolic (bottom). Systolic is a reading of the pressure placed on your arterial walls when your heart beats. Diastolic is a reading in the pause between heartbeats.
A normal blood pressure reading comes in at less than 120/80. Anything above those numbers is elevated.
Once you reach 130/80 and above, you are considered to have high blood pressure. The higher the readings, the more serious your hypertension. At 180/120, you are considered to be in hypertensive crisis, and should seek immediate emergency attention.
Blood pressure rises and falls throughout each day. Certain health conditions, medications, stress, and physical exertion can all change your readings. It’s important to have your blood pressure checked regularly to ensure your numbers stay in a healthy zone.
When your arteries become clogged or narrowed, your heart has to work harder to move oxygenated blood inside your arteries throughout your body to deliver oxygen and nutrients to your cells.
Higher blood pressure means you could be damaging your heart, blood vessels, brain, and other tissues. That damage is often cumulative, meaning it builds up over time. Bringing your blood pressure down to healthier levels can dramatically reduce your risk of serious health outcomes, including early death.
Now that you know just how important blood pressure is to your overall health, you might be wondering where to begin. The first step is booking a routine physical exam, during which Dr. Leach assesses your blood pressure and other health markers.
If Dr. Leach tells you that your blood pressure and general health look great, then just keep doing what you’re doing. If you learn you have borderline hypertension, you have a wonderful opportunity to make the changes needed to avoid a chronic disease diagnosis.
Even if your blood pressure is in dangerous territory, there are many things you can do to improve your readings and your quality of life. Dr. Leach works closely with you to identify areas to make lifestyle changes.
For many, that begins with making dietary changes that shift your nutrition toward healthier options. You can also help bring your blood pressure down by exercising, and you don’t have to dive into an extreme exercise program to see improvement.
Learning you have high blood pressure can feel like quite a blow, but finding and treating it may help prevent other conditions like heart disease, vision loss, sexual dysfunction, or kidney disease, which are all directly linked to hypertension.
It’s never too late to improve your health, and National High Blood Pressure Month is a great time to begin. When you’re ready to get started, contact Dr. Leach to schedule a visit at our office in Lanham, Maryland.
