What is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)?
- Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. It is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). High blood pressure (HBP) means the pressure in your arteries is higher than normal. Blood pressure indicates how hard your heart is working to move blood throughout your body. Another name for high blood pressure is hypertension.
- Normal blood pressure is less than or equal to 120/80
- The reading is divided into two numbers. The first number is the systolic (the pressure in your arteries when your heart is contracts) and the second number is diastolic (the pressure in your arteries when your heart relaxes). High blood pressure is a pressure of 130 systolic or higher, or 80 diastolic or higher, that stays high over time. High blood pressure usually has no signs or symptoms. That's why it is so dangerous. But it can be managed by visiting your primary care provider for checkups and following their instructions.
- What may cause high blood pressure? Some of the causes are poor diet, aging, lack of exercise, being overweight or obese, diabetes, family history, kidney problems, excessive alcohol consumption and race. Increased stress and anxiety may temporarily raise blood pressure by causing you heart to beat faster and your blood vessels to narrow, but it doesn't cause chronic high blood pressure. Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Chronic kidney disease and excessive weight may increase blood pressure.
- Plaque can form in your blood vessels from hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol). The more the plaque and damage increases, the smaller the insides of the arteries become — raising blood pressure and starting a vicious circle that further harms your arteries, heart and the rest of your body.
What happens if you don’t treat your blood pressure?
- Your risk for heart attack, stroke, peripheral artery disease, congestive heart failure and damage to vital organs like your eyes and kidneys is much higher.
- If you can lower your blood pressure, you may decrease your risk for heart disease and stroke by 21 - 34% per NIH (National Institutes of Health).
Family Health Centers, Inc., has initiated the Hypertension Management Program will offer:
- Hypertension Evaluation by a Provider for 30 minutes with possible follow up. The provider will discuss methods to manage and treat high blood pressure along with medications if needed.
- Free Electronic Blood Pressure Monitors
- Free Android Phone which will send Home blood pressure readings to your chart at Family Health Centers for evaluation by your primary care provider.