Is high blood pressure really that serious? Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects about 120 million adults in the United States, or about half of the adult population. What makes it serious is that it often displays no overt symptoms. In fact, around 700,000 American deaths were attributed to hypertension in 2021.
Our skilled and talented team at Health Solutions in Tinley Park, Rockford, Flossmoor, Illinois, and Munster, Indiana, shares more about the dangers of this “silent killer” and how you can live longer and better.
Blood pressure is how hard the blood presses against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps it through your body. When this force exceeds normal pressure levels over a long period, you have high blood pressure.
Higher blood pressure isn’t exactly chronic hypertension, but it is a concern. Some people just have a normal pressure reading that is a little high. It could look like:
You have reached Stage 1 hypertension when your blood pressure reading is around:
You have reached Stage 2 hypertension when your blood pressure reaches:
Here’s the kicker: you still may not feel any symptoms at this point.
A blood pressure reading higher than normal can cause issues throughout your body. Here are some of the most serious:
The most serious risk from high blood pressure is cardiovascular disease. Continued high pressure against the walls of your blood vessels makes them less elastic and narrower. This leads to atherosclerosis, where plaque builds up and restricts blood flow.
Consistently high blood pressure strains your heart and arteries, increasing the risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart failure.
High blood pressure also affects internal organs. The blood vessels within these organs are silently overworked and weakened. Hypertension causes significant damage like:
Sudden blood pressure spikes are a hypertensive crisis. This is when your systolic readings pass 180 mmHg and diastolic readings pass 120 mmHg. These are dangerously high levels that may cause severe organ damage or even death.
Some symptoms of a hypertensive crisis include:
This is a critical emergency that requires emergency medical treatment.
Chronic hypertension also has mental health impacts. Stress can affect your mental well-being and emotions and even cause depression and anxiety. Conversely, untreated depression and anxiety can contribute to hypertension.
High blood pressure is preventable and manageable with lifestyle modifications. We may also prescribe medication if needed. Here are the most recommended preventive steps:
Eat plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins. Reduce your intake of saturated fats, salt, and processed foods. The DASH diet is a great guide to making better dietary choices to lower your blood pressure.
Regular exercise is key to managing your blood pressure. Walking, biking, and swimming are great for cardiovascular health and weight loss. Try to schedule at least half an hour of exercise daily. That can reduce your blood pressure by as much as 8 mmHg!
Eliminating stress is ideal, but life happens to all of us. Reduce your stress and its impacts with deep breathing, medication, exercise, or yoga. Even fun hobbies can reduce stress and its effects on your health.
Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking contribute to hypertension, so don’t lean on them. Reduce or avoid them entirely for the best health.
An annual physical exam at Health Solutions lets us monitor your blood pressure, identify any issues, and recommend necessary changes to keep it at healthy and safe levels. We can also help you manage other health conditions that can impact hypertension.
Get your blood pressure checked as soon as possible. Our Health Solutions team can help you manage hypertension and live a better, healthier life. Schedule an exam and consultation at the office nearest you today.
