The Importance of Monitoring High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (HBP) or hypertension is a common condition which refers to an excessive amount of pressure your blood puts on the lining of arteries in the heart, brain, kidney, eyes and other organs. Untreated, HBP can lead to serious complications such as heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure.  Treated, it can be well managed and a long healthy life can be anticipated. 

One of the challenges is the condition is almost always asymptomatic until complications have occurred. Therefore, knowledge of your own actual blood pressure is essential.

Most of us are familiar with the fact that blood pressure is reported as two numbers (for example, "120 over 80").  The first number is called the systolic blood pressure (SBP), and indicates the maximum pressure within the arteries generated by the pumping action of the heart. The second number is the diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and reflects the resting pressure in your arteries between heart beats.  Physicians are often asked which number is more important-the answer is both.

Blood pressure tends to fluctuate during the course of the day, so when we talk about "normal" numbers, we need to realize that a single elevated reading does not necessarily define HBP. With that in mind, a normal blood pressure is 120/80 or lower. If the SBP is 120-139 or the DBP is 80-89, the patient meets criteria for "prehypertension".  Either a SBP of 140 or a DBP of 90 (confirmed on more than one office visit) will lead to the diagnosis of HBP.

Because HBP rarely causes symptoms, blood pressure should be measured at every visit with your primary care physician.  There are certain patient groups who are at higher risk than average to develop HBP-age, obesity and African-American descent are the most significant.

Once diagnosed, HBP needs to be treated and followed. Unless the pressure is unusually severe, life style changes are the first line of treatment.  Decreasing salt (or sodium) intake, achieving a healthy weight, performing 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week, and avoiding cigarettes and excessive alcohol are the basics.  If your blood pressure remains over 140/90 despite these changes, then your physician will likely recommend medications.  There are many options available, and what is best for an individual patient needs to be based upon a number of issues, including other medical conditions.

The good news is that treatment works, can help you avoid strokes, heart attacks and other problems, and is compatible with an active and normal lifestyle.

If you would like to consult a NuHealth specialist in the care of HBP, please contact the Zaki Hossein Center for Hypertension, Diabetes and Vascular Disease at 516 572 4848.