High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects nearly half of the people in the United States. It can have serious consequences, but it can be treated and managed to lower the risk of complications. It’s important to understand high blood pressure and to recognize the signs that you need to seek help from your doctor.
What Is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure affects the arteries when the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high. When this occurs, your heart has to work harder to pump blood. It also puts strain on other parts of your body. Blood pressure is defined as high when it’s 130/80 or higher.
Blood Pressure Numbers Explained
The top number of a blood pressure reading is the systolic blood pressure, which is the force of the blood against the arteries when the heart contracts. The lower number is the diastolic blood pressure, which is the force of the blood when the heart relaxes between beats.
Blood pressure levels are categorized into five states.
- Normal blood pressure is 120/80 or less.
- Elevated blood pressure is 120-129/80 or less.
- Stage 1 hypertension is 130-139/80-89.
- Stage 2 hypertension is 140/90 or higher.
- Hypertensive crisis occurs at 180/120 or higher.
These conditions are not defined by a single reading, but by consistently high numbers. Many factors can affect a single reading, such as too much caffeine or stress.
When to See a Doctor for High Blood Pressure
People often check their blood pressure at pharmacies or with a home monitor. If you have more than one elevated reading, it’s worth talking to your doctor. Certain symptoms may also occur that require medical evaluation. These include:
- Severe or frequent headaches
- Chest pressure
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Shortness of breath
- Blurred vision
- Heart palpitations
- Unusual fatigue
If these symptoms are severe or if you have a reading over 180/120, it’s an emergency situation that requires immediate medical attention.
Note that many people don’t have symptoms, which is why high blood pressure is known as the silent killer. You may not know that you have it even while it’s causing damage to your body.
Risk Factors for High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure has many risk factors. If you have these risk factors, it’s a good idea to monitor your blood pressure regularly. These factors include:
- Age: Risk increases with age, particularly for women. More men than women are affected by high blood pressure under age sixty-four, while women are more likely to develop high blood pressure after age sixty-five.
- Family history: If you have a parent or sibling with high blood pressure, you are more likely to develop it.
- Race: High blood pressure is common in black people and can develop at an earlier age.
- Obesity: Obesity causes changes in the blood vessels and kidneys, which can increase blood pressure.
- Sedentary lifestyle: A lack of exercise can cause excess weight and can also lead to an increased heart rate which is a factor in high blood pressure.
- Smoking: Smoking increases blood pressure consistently and can also damage the blood vessel walls.
- Too much alcohol: Alcohol use increases risk, particularly for men.
- Too much salt: Salt causes the body to retain fluid, which can increase blood pressure.
- Low potassium levels: Potassium is involved in regulating salt levels, which is important to maintaining healthy blood pressure.
- Chronic stress: Stress can increase blood pressure and chronic stress can keep blood pressure levels elevated.
- Pregnancy: Pregnant women sometimes have high blood pressure.
- Chronic conditions: Conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, and sleep apnea have been linked to high blood pressure.
How is High Blood Pressure Treated?
High blood pressure is generally treated with medications, but lifestyle changes are also important in controlling blood pressure.
Medications may include:
- Diuretics – help the body remove excess salt and water
- ACE inhibitors – relax blood vessels
- ARBs – similar to ACE inhibitors, often with fewer side effects
- Calcium channel blockers – help blood vessels relax and slow heart rate
- Beta blockers – reduce heart workload (used in specific cases)
Lifestyle changes include:
- Eating a heart healthy diet like the DASH diet
- Limiting salt intake
- Exercising regularly
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Not smoking
- Limiting alcohol use
- Improving sleep
- Managing stress
- Limiting caffeine intake
Risks of Untreated High Blood Pressure
If blood pressure is not controlled, it can lead to several serious health conditions.
Heart & Circulatory Complications
- Heart attack – from narrowed or blocked arteries
- Heart failure – the heart thickens and weakens from overwork
- Coronary artery disease – reduced blood flow to the heart
- Enlarged heart – which raises the risk of rhythm problems and failure
Brain & Neurological Complications
- Stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic)
- Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or “mini-strokes”
- Vascular dementia – caused by reduced blood flow to the brain
- Cognitive decline and memory problems
Kidney Damage
- Chronic kidney disease
- Kidney failure, possibly requiring dialysis
- Protein in the urine (proteinuria)
Vision Problems
- Hypertensive retinopathy (damage to blood vessels in the eyes)
- Blurred or lost vision
- Permanent blindness in severe cases
Blood Vessel & Organ Damage
- Aneurysms (dangerous vessel bulging that can rupture)
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD) – reduced blood flow to limbs
- Sexual dysfunction (erectile dysfunction or reduced libido)
Metabolic & Other Effects
- Metabolic syndrome (increased risk of diabetes and heart disease)
- Complications during pregnancy, including preeclampsia
In Closing
High blood pressure can be a silent killer, so it’s important to have your blood pressure checked regularly. At Health Service Alliance, our medical team can help you to monitor your blood pressure and provide treatment and lifestyle advice when you need it. We are dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized, and accessible care regardless of your ability to pay. Reach out today to learn more.
