High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is very common. You may have it and don’t even know it. But it’s important to understand because it can lead to serious health problems if not treated. Let’s look at five common questions about high blood pressure.
1. What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure happens when your blood pushes too hard against the walls of our arteries. Over time, this can damage your heart, brain, and kidneys. The tricky part? You usually can’t feel high blood pressure, so you may not know you have it.
2. What causes it?
Some things that raise your risk for high blood pressure are out of your control, like your age or family history. But there are some things you can change to lower your risk. These include:
- Eating too much salt
- Not getting enough exercise
- Being overweight
- Smoking
- Drinking too much alcohol
Making healthy changes in these areas can help prevent or control high blood pressure.
3. How do I know if I have high blood pressure?
The only way to know is to get your blood pressure checked. Your doctor can do this for you, using a cuff around your arm. You’ll see two numbers:
- The top number is the pressure when your heart beats
- The bottom number is the pressure when your heart rests between beats
A normal reading is below 120/80. If your numbers are 140/90 or higher, you may have high blood pressure.
Track your blood pressure at home.
4. How is it treated?
Treatment usually starts with lifestyle changes. You can eat healthy, work out, kick that smoking habit, and find ways to de-stress.
You may also need medicine to lower your blood pressure. These medicines work in different ways to help protect your heart and other organs. Diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers might be prescribed to help you manage your high blood pressure.
Speaking of stress, you might think that’s the main cause of high blood pressure, but it’s likely not. While stress can make your numbers go up for a short time, it’s not usually the main reason people have high blood pressure.
5. Can I prevent it?
Yes! You can do a lot to keep your blood pressure in a healthy range.
- Eat less salt (less than 2,000 mg per day is best)
- Get regular exercise (at least 150 minutes of moderate activity each week, like walking)
- Lose weight if needed
- Quit smoking
- Drink less alcohol
Take care of yourself now
High blood pressure is serious, but it can be managed. Simple changes to your daily habits can make a big difference. Talk to your doctor about your numbers and what you can do to stay healthy. Don’t wait! Taking care of your blood pressure now can help protect your future.
