Important Things to Know About High Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is an important measure of cardiovascular health. It consists of two numbers: systolic and diastolic. For this, I like to use the garden hose analogy: Systolic is when you turn the water on and represents the “pumping” pressure of the heart, whereas diastolic is when you turn the water off and represents the “filling” pressure of the blood vessels.

What is normal blood pressure? People generally think it is 120/80, but actually, it is less than 140/90. Another important question to ask is: Why does high blood pressure happen? High blood pressure happens due to many factors, including genetic and environmental. Environmental factors can include poor diet/high sodium (salt) intake and lack of exercise.

It is important to notice the symptoms of high blood pressure, which can include headache, dizziness, light-headedness, blurry vision, and nausea/vomiting. The complications/consequences of high blood pressure are very debilitating and can include:

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Atrial fibrillation
• Kidney failure

Prevention of high blood pressure is vitally important, especially lifestyle changes, such as diet, exercise, and sleep. Treatment of high blood pressure is critical, especially medications, such as Metoprolol and water pills.

Measuring one’s blood pressure by oneself is a crucial habit to adopt, in which there are fairly easy and common ways to do this. One way to do this is to check it at various retail outpatient pharmacies. Another way is to purchase an automated blood pressure machine, such as Omron.

When it comes to taking medication for high blood pressure, a common concern is whether one needs to stay on it indefinitely. The response is: Not necessarily. It depends on the individual and is a case-by-case basis. Your doctor would be the best person to ask that question.

Finally, many people wonder: Once my blood pressure is high, what can I do to lower it? Other than taking your blood pressure medication as prescribed, you can try relaxation techniques, such as taking deep breaths and walking.

References

• Understanding Blood Pressure Readings | American Heart Association
• High blood pressure (hypertension) - Symptoms & causes - Mayo Clinic
• Monitoring blood pressure at home? Make sure you follow these steps - Harvard Health