Hypertension

What is hypertension? 

Hypertension occurs when your blood pressure is at unhealthy, high levels. Arteries travel your blood from your heart to all through your body. When blood presses up against your artery walls, this creates pressure. When that pressure is too intense, it can lead to hypertension and a number of other health concerns. 

Your blood pressure levels are measured through a blood pressure reading. Your provider reviews your levels against guidelines —  a normal blood pressure level is less than 120/80 mmHg. A level of 130/80 mm Hg or higher is considered high blood pressure or hypertension.

What are the symptoms of hypertension? 

You may be at risk for hypertension if it runs in your family, you are elderly, overweight, don’t exercise regularly, or consume too much alcohol. 

If you have high blood pressure, you may experience: 

• Angina (chest pain) or abnormal heartbeat 
• Intense headaches 
• Breathing difficulty 
• Nausea or vomiting 
• Feeling dizzy or confused 
• Ears buzzing 
• Nosebleeds 
• Vision blurring 

Many people don’t experience symptoms, so it’s important to check your blood pressure regularly if you’re at risk for hypertension.

What problems does hypertension cause?

If left untreated, hypertension can lead to a number of serious health issues including: 

• Heart disease 
• Angina (chest pain) 
• Heart attack 
• Heart failure 
• Stroke 
• Poor cognitive function or dementia 
• Kidney disease 

Luckily, if treated early on, you can avoid hypertension and these other severe health concerns. 

What are my hypertension treatment options? 

After your provider does a blood pressure reading, they determine if you need medication or if your hypertension can be treated with lifestyle changes. Some of the treatments for hypertension include: 

• Exercising 30 minutes a day at least five times a week 
• Avoiding smoking 
• Losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight 
• Improving your diet 
• Avoiding a high-salt diet 
• Limiting alcohol consumption 
• Improving stress levels
• Taking blood pressure medication 

Medication can help your body remove excess water (and subsequently salt) and relax your blood vessels and heartbeat. Your provider may recommend medication for a short amount of time or encourage you to take it regularly. 

Reach out online or call Francisco A. Cruz, MD, PA,directly if you’d like to discuss diagnosing or treating hypertension today.