Chronic Disease Management

Hypertension

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is an increase in the force of your blood pushing against the blood vessel walls.  The force makes your heart work harder to pump the blood throughout your body, which can result in stroke, heart failure, heart attack, kidney failure, vision problems, aneurysm, and other problems.

High blood pressure is especially dangerous because most people are unaware that they have it.  There are no signs or symptoms of high blood pressure, which is why it is important to get your blood pressure checked regularly at your physician's office, especially if you have one or more of the following risk factors:

• Family history of hypertension
• Diabetes
• High Cholesterol
• Obesity
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Too much salt in your diet
• Too much alcohol
• Stress
• Older age

Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80.  One high reading does not necessarily mean that you have high blood pressure.  If you have a high reading, measure your blood pressure at different times while resting to find a typical reading for you.  See your doctor if you consistently have high readings.

Treatment for hypertension will most likely consist of a combination of diet (less salt), weight loss, exercise (a minimum of 30 minutes, 3 times a week, has been shown to make a difference), and possibly medication.  Once you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, your physician will want to see you every three months to check your status.