Are you currently taking medication for high blood pressure? Has your doctor provided you with all the knowledge and education you desire when it comes to your blood pressure numbers and whether you should be concerned or not? Sure, there are varying degrees – but if you are on medication and it is causing other side effects that directly impact your health, it’s important to understand the ins and out – and when you should be concerned.
Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. A blood pressure cuff is used to measure the pressure. The “top” number is the systolic number and let’s us know the maximum pressure during one heartbeat. The “bottom” number is the diastolic number and is the minimum pressure between two heartbeats in the cardiac cycle. Elevation is called “hypertension“. Over the years, we’ve become more aggressive with the numbers to prevent the complications of elevated blood pressure. Optimal is under 120/80.
Hypertension is a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood pressure against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease, eye disease, kidney disease and vascular disease.
What are the signs yours may be too high?
If it is extremely high, there may be certain symptoms to look out for, including:
- Severe headaches
- Nosebleed
- Fatigue or confusion
- Vision problems
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Irregular heartbeat
- Blood in the urine
Common factors that can lead to hypertension include
- A diet high in salt and carbohydrates.
- Chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity
- Family history, especially if your parents or other close relatives have high blood pressure.
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Poor sleep or sleep apnea
Personalized Care
At Activated Health & Wellness our goal for each patient is whole person care. An integrative approach to patient care is what drives our providers – each day to identify the root cause of disease. Hypertension is a disease and if it’s not treated properly can cause additional health problems. Taking medication for life isn’t always the answer, particularly when medication can cause other issues and side effects.
If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help lower yours, schedule an appointment.
