Could You Be Among the Millions of Americans Who Have Hypertension and Don't Know It?
It may seem mundane or even incidental to have your blood pressure measured regularly, but it’s one of the most important things you can do to protect your long-term health.
Here’s why: Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is extremely common, and when left untreated, it’s extremely dangerous.
One in three adults in the United States has high blood pressure, which drastically increases the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or aneurysm.
At Isaac Medical Group in Deerfield Beach, Florida, experienced primary care physician Emmanuel Isaac, DO, specializes in preventing and managing chronic conditions, including hypertension.
Having regular blood pressure screenings can catch the problem early so you can get it under control before it impacts your health. You can live with high blood pressure for years without knowing it, and millions do. They feel perfectly fine as the condition quietly undermines their health.
Here’s what Dr. Isaac wants you to know about hypertension and your long-term health.
Blood pressure 101
The term “blood pressure” refers to the amount of force your blood exerts against the walls of your arteries, both when your heart beats and when it rests between beats.
Blood pressure peaks when your heart beats, because that’s when it actively pushes blood through your arteries. This is known as systolic pressure, which is the first (or top) number in a blood pressure reading.
When your heart rests between beats, your blood pressure drops considerably. This is known as diastolic pressure, which is the second (or bottom) number in a blood pressure reading.
A blood pressure measurement that falls below 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) is considered normal, or healthy. High blood pressure develops when an underlying condition or set of factors causes your blood flow to increase and the amount of force it exerts against the walls of your arteries to rise.
Getting to work
If Dr. Isaac finds that you’re in hypertensive territory, we tackle the problem from several angles for the fastest results, which may include:
- Healthy eating (reducing sodium, for example)
- Increasing physical activity
- Lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Stress management and relaxation techniques
- Taking blood pressure medicines
When combined, you’ll be surprised by how quickly we can reduce your blood pressure numbers, safeguarding your health for years to come.
Don’t stay in the dark about hypertension. Contact Dr. Isaac to book a preventive care appointment or annual physical today.