Hypertension Education
What is hypertension?
High blood pressure, also known as the silent killer, is a medical condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high.
There are usually no symptoms associated with high blood pressure and if untreated, can cause health conditions, such as heart disease and stroke. In a hypertensive crisis, symptoms may include:
Severe Chest Pain
Severe headache, along with confusion and blurred vision
Nausea and Vomiting
Severe Anxiety
Shortness of Breath
Nose Bleeds
There are five stages of hypertension:
Systolic reading less than 120/ Diastolic less than 80
Systolic reading of 120 – 129 / Diastolic less than 80
Systolic reading of 130 – 139 / Diastolic 80 – 89
Systolic reading of 140 or higher / Diastolic 90 or higher
Systolic reading higher than 180 / Diastolic higher than 120
Control and Prevention
We encourage our patients to make the necessary lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to control hypertension conditions.
Medications may also be necessary to treat stages of hypertension. They work by lowering the blood pressure to stable levels and can reduce the risk of hypertension complications.
Regular medical checkups are also essential to manage your hypertension.
If your hypertension is left untreated, there are additional health complications that can occur, including:
Heart attack or stroke
Aneurysm
Heart failure
Kidney failure
Vision problems
Sexual dysfunction