Hypertension

Hypertension

Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Blood pressure is the highest during heartbeats, when the blood is pumping, and lowest when the heart is at rest. These are the systolic and diastolic pressures, the two numbers that make up a blood pressure reading.
High blood pressure is dangerous and is the greatest risk factor for stroke, heart attack and heart disease. Hypertension begins when the systolic pressure is greater than 140 or when the diastolic pressure is greater than 90.

Symptoms of Hypertension:

High blood pressure often doesn’t have any noticeable symptoms until it has severely progressed into a chronic condition. This is why regular health screenings and annual checkups are so important for monitoring overall health.

Causes of Hypertension:

A number of factors and lifestyle choices place someone at a greater risk for developing hypertension, including:

  • Alcohol use
  • Tobacco use
  • Fat-rich diet
  • Salt-rich diet
  • Sedentary lifestyle

Treatments for Hypertension

If left untreated, high blood pressure can be deadly. It is the primary risk factor for a number of chronic conditions, including stroke, heart disease, heart failure and aneurysms. Luckily, there are a variety of options for both preventing and treating chronic hypertension.

  • Adopting a healthy diet
  • Implementing physical activity
  • Reducing stress
  • Certain medications

At ForCare Medical Center, we can help treat your hypertension and find relief. Contact ForCare Medical Center today to schedule your appointment.