What is hypertension?
Hypertension is another term for high blood pressure. As blood circulates, the heart’s pumping action causes pressure inside the blood vessels. This pressure typically occurs within normal low and high boundaries. Hypertension occurs when the pressure inside the blood vessels exceeds the normal high level. Over time and without proper treatment, hypertension can cause damage to the blood vessels as well as damage to other organs, and it can also significantly increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious medical issues.
How is hypertension diagnosed?
Hypertension is diagnosed using a sphygmomanometer, which is the medical term for a blood pressure cuff. The cuff measures the pressure of the blood when the heart is beating (systolic) and when it’s at rest between beats (diastolic). Because high blood pressure causes few or no symptoms before a serious event occurs, having regular checkups is the best way to determine if hypertension is present.
What symptoms are connected to hypertension?
High blood pressure often has no symptoms that appear. If left untreated, long-term hypertension can create symptoms that will need to be assessed by a physician through examination. Because of this, it is important to have your blood pressure checked regularly. Starting at age 18 you should have a blood pressure reading every two years. If you’re 40 or older ask your doctor for a blood pressure reading every year. Complications which can go hand-in-hand with hypertension include:
- Blood vessel narrowing
- Blood vessels in the eyes may bleed or rupture
- An enlarged heart
- A weakened heart
- Aneurysms, or atypical bulges in the wall of the artery
How is hypertension treated?
A physician can recommend a diet and exercise program and lifestyle changes that specifically address high blood pressure issues. If these changes alone do not show signs of improvement, high blood pressure medications such as beta-blockers, vasodilators, or inhibitors may be prescribed in combination with lifestyle and behavioral changes. The prescribed medication will depend on the unique needs of the patient. I you find yourself looking for a hypertension specialist near me schedule an appointment.