High Blood Pressure

What causes high blood pressure?

Having some level of force in your veins is essential to push blood to and from the furthest points of your extremities. But too much pressure on the walls of your veins, vessels, and arteries can lead to structural damage, clots, and other heart disease-related issues. 

In some cases, your blood pressure increases gradually over time for no single identifiable reason. This is known as primary hypertension. 

High blood pressure can also be linked to an underlying issue, such as thyroid problems, kidney disease, or obstructive sleep apnea. Even your prescription medications, including oral birth control pills, can lead to hypertension. 

When your blood pressure increases because of these types of issues, it’s known as secondary hypertension. In any case, your risk of developing high blood pressure increases due to:

• Having a family history of hypertension
• Having high levels of stress in your life
• Maintaining a sedentary lifestyle
• Consuming too much salt
• Using tobacco products

No matter what’s causing your high blood pressure, it’s important to get started on treatment right away, so you can preserve your heart health. 

When is blood pressure considered high?

For optimal heart health, your blood pressure should be less than 120/80 mm Hg. Your cardiologist at Cardio Metabolic Institute may start having you make lifestyle changes if your blood pressure reading starts going above 120/80 mm Hg. 

Usually, Stage 1 hypertension occurs when your blood pressure is above 130/80 mm Hg, while Stage 2 hypertension means that your blood pressure is at 140/90 mm Hg or more.

What’s particularly dangerous is that high blood pressure has no obvious symptoms. So unless you check it regularly, you might not know that your blood pressure is high.

A blood pressure reading of 180/120 mm Hg or more is considered a hypertensive crisis, which is an emergency. If your blood pressure gets this high, you could start experiencing headaches, nosebleeds, and vision problems. 

How is high blood pressure treated?

Your high blood pressure treatment plan from Cardio Metabolic Institute is entirely tailored to you and the severity of your condition. Most hypertension treatment plans incorporate lifestyle changes, including:

• Nutrition counseling with an on-site registered dietician
• Learning to follow a plant-based diet
• Reducing your sodium intake
• Exercise planning
• Losing weight

Your dedicated cardiologist at Cardio Metabolic Institute may also prescribe medications. Hypertension drugs can eliminate excess sodium and water (diuretics), relax your blood vessels, or slow your heart rate. 

Rest assured, with the team of expert cardiologists on your side at Cardio Metabolic Institute, you can start improving your blood pressure in no time. 

If you have high blood pressure, schedule an evaluation at Cardio Metabolic Institute today. Click on the online booking feature or call your most convenient location.