High Blood Pressure: How Loud It Can Be

High blood pressure (HBP) is louder than you may think.  Often called the “silent killer”, hypertension has symptoms to let you know it is present.  Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, fatigue, weakness, blurred vision, seizures, unexplained anxiety, and more.  Though nonspecific these signs and symptoms do correlate with high blood pressure. If you have a family history of HBP and heart problems, it is very likely the symptoms will be present. Untreated hypertension may lead to more serious conditions like heart attacks and strokes.

When you experience symptoms suggestive of hypertension, it is important to get it checked.  This should be done by a health care professional, but can be done at home, also.  Consistent readings above 140/90 call for assessment and treatment.  A complete physical exam, complete blood tests, and EKG should be done to check for overall good health and findings that are seen with hypertension. 

On physical exam the eye exam may reveal retinopathy and artery narrowing.  This is associated with decreased vision and can proceed to blindness.  Bruits over the carotid arteries in the neck and over the abdomen area suggest vascular disease that can block the arteries off.  This can lead to strokes, chronic kidney disease, peripheral vascular disease (poor circulation in legs), sexual dysfunction and more.  Heart findings and EKG changes can show signs of heart disease that accompany hypertension.  Blood tests provide further information and can even help assess if there are secondary causes.  Your doctor correlates all the information to assess a treatment plan. 

Initial therapy includes lifestyle changes like a healthy, nutritious diet, good sleep, low stress, and exercise.  If your blood pressure reading consistently remains elevated medication may be needed.  This may be temporary or lifetime depending on your lifestyle health habits.  For example, weight loss and eating the right foods especially those known to decrease blood pressure, can totally eliminate the need for medication and its side effects that can create new chronic problems. The best part is that you will feel better, and hopefully prevent any problems from untreated high blood pressure.  Best health!

High Blood Pressure - Home Checks

High blood pressure, also called hypertension affects 1 in 3 adults. Stay 120/80! Know your numbers.

For more accurate measures of your blood pressure and what affects it consider home blood pressure monitoring. Buy a blood pressure monitor for home use. Wrist and arm monitors are available at Amazon, Target, Walgreen's, CVS, Wal-Mart, and local medical supply stores. Shop on line by doing a search for "blood pressure monitor". One of the top finds is for those made by Omron, and of course, the store brands.

Record your blood pressure readings daily starting with morning, midday, and night. Make a note of your activity and how you are feeling. You may notice that extreme anxiety makes it go up, or that your head hurts. The correlation to your pressure will help you manage your symptoms.

If your blood pressure is borderline at 140/90, you want to start a low salt diet. The best is the DASH diet (http://bit.ly/hnbsL). Exercise, weight control, and stress reduction are other things to include in your treatment plan. For higher blood pressure readings over 140/90, medication may be necessary. Take your home blood pressure results in to your doctor. This will help in deciding on the best treatment for you.

Share your results with your doctor so medication and lifestyle changes can be made if necessary. You may find that while your blood pressure is high in the doctor's office, it may be normal in everyday activity. Remember, the doctor's result is a one time reading every few months. With normal home results, and high results at your doctor visits you may have "white coat" hypertension. There is much controversy over whether this should be treated. Check with your cardiologist.

American Heart Association http://hearthub.org/ for your cardiovascular concerns.


by J.L. Richardson, MD, author of the award winning Patient Handbook to Medical Care.

mypatienthandbook.com/
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High Blood Pressure/ Hypertension Follow-up

High blood pressure, also called hypertension affects 1 in 4 adults. Stay 120/75! Know your mumbers.

For more accurate measures of your blood pressure and what affects it consider home blood pressure monitoring. Buy a blood pressure monitor for home use. Wrist and arm monitors are available at Target, Walgreen's, CVS, Wal-Mart, and local medical supply stores. Shop on line by doing a search for "blood pressure monitor".

Record your blood pressure readings daily starting with morning, midday, and night. Make a note of your activity and how you are feeling. You may notice that extreme anxiety makes it go up, or that your head hurts. The correlation to your pressure will help you manage your symptoms.

Share your results with your doctor so medication and lifestyle changes can be made if necessary. You may find that while your blood pressure is high in the doctor's office, it may be normal in everyday activity. Remember, the doctor's result is a one time reading every few months. With normal home results, and high results at your doctor visits you may have "white coat" hypertension. There is much controversy over whether this should be treated. Check with your cardiologist.

American Heart Association http://hearthub.org for all your cardiovascular concerns.