High Blood Pressure

What is high blood pressure?

To understand high blood pressure (hypertension), it helps to think about the way your heart works to move blood throughout your body. Each time your heart beats, it pumps blood into your arteries. That pumping action places a degree of force on your arterial walls. 

The force created during each heartbeat is recorded as your systolic blood pressure, and the force placed in the pause between heartbeats is your diastolic blood pressure. The combined reading is recorded as systolic/diastolic. 

Blood pressure readings at or below 120/80 are considered normal. Anything above 130/80 is considered hypertension, and readings above 180/120 are considered a medical emergency. 

What are the health risks of high blood pressure?

Your blood pressure normally rises and falls a bit throughout each day. When you are feeling stressed it tends to rise, and it’s usually the lowest during sleep. But when your blood pressure is consistently above 130/80, it’s time to take action. 

Persistent high blood pressure is among the most serious health conditions. Some of the health risks that rise if you have hypertension include:

• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Stroke
• Kidney disease
• Sexual dysfunction
• Vision loss
• Cognitive issues
• Dementia
• Metabolic syndrome

High blood pressure can negatively affect virtually every aspect of your health and wellness. At Officium Health, every effort is made to take a proactive approach to managing blood pressure, which includes routine screenings and maintaining great overall health. 

What can be done to treat high blood pressure?

If you have high blood pressure, there are several things you can do to bring your readings back down to healthier levels. At Officium Health, your practitioner works with you to create a treatment plan that aligns with your needs. 

Medication is often the first step. Drug therapy can relax the walls of your arteries to improve blood flow, help your kidneys move water and sodium through your system, or slow your heart rate. It often takes a combination of two or more medications to achieve optimal results. 

Making changes to your diet and exercise habits is also a great way to lower your blood pressure. If you have issues with anxiety or sleep disruption, improving your stress management or getting treatment for sleep issues can also be helpful. 

Treating high blood pressure is a personalized process. Begin today by calling Officium Health or using the online booking page to find a time that fits your busy schedule.