A stressful day here and there may be a typical part of life, but stress can have both temporary and long-term effects on your health. Explore the connections between stress and hypertension in this article.
Roughly one in three adults in the United States have high blood pressure, but only about half are managing their condition appropriately. High blood pressure puts you at risk for heart disease, the leading cause of death among Americans. Most people who have high blood pressure have no symptoms, but the condition silently damages your body. There are two types of hypertension. Understanding your condition is one of the first steps to getting your hypertension under control.
Hypertension refers to an elevated force against your artery walls as your heart pumps to circulate blood throughout your body. When the force becomes too strong, it can have detrimental effects on your body.
In a blood pressure reading, the top number, known as systolic pressure, refers to the force against your artery walls when the heart beats. Diastolic pressure, the bottom number, refers to the force against your arteries between beats when your heart is at rest.
A normal blood pressure is below 120/80 and above 90/60. As your blood pressure increases, so does the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
High blood pressure damages your arteries, causing them to become narrow and reducing blood flow. The damage can also cause your heart to become weak and pump less efficiently. Sustained elevated blood pressure can also damage your brain and your kidneys.
Treatment and lifestyle changes can help bring your blood pressure within a safe range. There are two types of hypertension, but the risks for both are the same.
Also known as primary hypertension, essential hypertension is high blood pressure that doesn’t have a known cause. About 90-95% of hypertension cases are classified as essential hypertension.
While doctors don’t know the exact cause of essential hypertension, it has been linked to certain risk factors. You’re more likely to develop primary hypertension if you have one or more of these risk factors:
The more risk factors you have, the higher the chances of developing primary hypertension.
Lifestyle changes are the cornerstone for treating essential hypertension. If you’ve recently been diagnosed with primary high blood pressure, your physician may recommend the following changes to help control your blood pressure:
Being overweight or obese puts a major strain on your circulatory system. As your weight increases, so does your blood pressure. The good news? Losing even a modest amount of weight can dramatically lower your blood pressure.
Being a couch potato is detrimental to many aspects of your health. Exercise makes your heart stronger, allowing it to pump more efficiently with less effort. When your heart pumps with less effort, your blood pressure decreases. Starting with something as simple as walking can have a positive impact on your blood pressure.
Adopting a healthy diet is one of the best ways to lower your blood pressure. A heart-healthy diet is low in sodium and saturated fat and rich in vegetables, fruit, whole grains, heart-healthy fats, and lean protein.
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet has these characteristics and is proven effective at lowering blood pressure. If diet and lifestyle changes aren’t enough, your physician may prescribe medication to control your blood pressure.
A diagnosis of secondary hypertension means that there is a condition causing your blood pressure to remain elevated. Conditions that can cause secondary hypertension include:
The treatment for secondary hypertension focuses on the underlying cause. People with thyroid disorders often find that their blood pressure normalizes when their thyroid condition is under control, for example.
Working with your doctor to treat the underlying cause can help bring your blood pressure within a safe range. Your physician may prescribe medication until the underlying cause is treated effectively.
The specialists at Westmed Family Healthcare can help you manage your blood pressure, improve your heart health, and lower your risk for serious complications. To learn more, call our Westminster, Colorado, office or book online to schedule an appointment with one of our providers.
You Might Also Enjoy...
A stressful day here and there may be a typical part of life, but stress can have both temporary and long-term effects on your health. Explore the connections between stress and hypertension in this article.
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is relatively easy to treat but can cause some intense discomfort as you manage it. Take time to learn about the signs and symptoms so you can recognize them and find relief quickly.
Making dinner for friends or family can be fulfilling, but you want to be sure what you’re making is friendly to everyone’s diet. If you’re wondering how to plan a diabetes-friendly dinner, find out here.
Choosing a form of birth control can take a few trial runs as you explore the benefits and drawbacks of each type. The pill and the IUD are top contenders. Learn about both to decide which is right for you.
A prediabetes diagnosis is concerning, but it gives you the opportunity to examine and revise your current diet and lifestyle. Here are some facts you might not know about prediabetes.
Most people realize that high cholesterol commonly comes from a poor diet. But where does exercise come into play? Find out more about the connection between exercise and healthy cholesterol levels.