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Evol Health
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
What Is “Normal” Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is read in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). The top number, or systolic pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart pumps. The bottom number, or diastolic pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries between heartbeats.
Healthy or “normal” blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg. Elevated blood pressure is 120-129/80 or less, and stage one hypertension is 130-139/80-89. Blood pressure higher than 140/90 is considered stage two hypertension.
Consult your doctor right away if your blood pressure is higher than 180/120, which is considered a hypertensive emergency.
What Are The Causes Of High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure happens when the pressure in your arteries is higher than it should be, which over time can result in a number of health problems.
Various factors can contribute to high blood pressure. It usually occurs gradually over the course of many years, without one specific cause. This is called essential hypertension. Certain risks can increase your chances of developing high blood pressure, such as:
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Being older than 55 years old
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Having family members who have high blood pressure
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Being overweight or obese
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Unmanaged stress
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Sedentary lifestyle
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Smoking
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High-sodium diet
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Low-potassium diet
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Excessive alcohol consumption
Some people develop high blood pressure as a result of another medical condition, which is known as secondary hypertension. Risk factors for secondary hypertension include:
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Kidney disease
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Thyroid disease
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Blood vessel problems
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Obstructive sleep apnea
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Tumors in your adrenal glands
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Illicit drugs
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Medications, including hormonal birth control, cold medicine, and decongestants
If you have high blood pressure, your doctor will likely work with you to determine the cause. In people with essential hypertension, high blood pressure can often be managed with lifestyle changes. In people with secondary hypertension, managing the cause of hypertension can lower your risk of developing disease associated with it.
Can I Treat High Blood Pressure Online?
Medical treatment for high blood pressure is an important way to maintain your long-term health, but treating any condition can be expensive. Generally, medication is cheaper with health insurance. It’s also more cost-effective to use generic versions of blood pressure drugs. Another way to reduce medical costs is to consider treating blood pressure online. An online medical provider can help you manage your blood pressure, whether by recommending lifestyle changes to improve it or suggesting a medication regimen to help. You can then order your blood pressure medication through an online pharmacy that delivers your medicine to your home, reducing costs. If you’re concerned about your blood pressure and want to learn more about treating it online, chat with a EVOL Health provider today about the best options for improving your health at a reasonable cost.
What Are The Symptoms Of High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the amount of pressure in your arteries when your blood flows through them. The narrower your arteries are, and the more blood your heart pumps through them, the higher your blood pressure will be.
Over time, high blood pressure (aka hypertension) can contribute to medical problems, such as heart attack and stroke. High blood pressure can also result in pregnancy complications, organ damage, vision loss, cognitive impairment, and dementia. On its own, high blood pressure doesn’t always cause noticeable symptoms. In fact, you may not even know you have high blood pressure until you measure it at the doctor’s office.
Some people experience symptoms like headache, shortness of breath, or nose bleeds due to high blood pressure, but these don’t always indicate high blood pressure. Often, they don’t occur until blood pressure is already extremely high or life-threatening.
What Are The Treatment Options For High Blood Pressure?
The treatment for high blood pressure depends on several factors, such as the type of high blood pressure you have and what’s causing it.
If you have secondary hypertension, your doctor will likely focus on treating the disease that’s contributing to your high blood pressure.
Because lifestyle factors can influence blood pressure, people can also manage high blood pressure by adjusting those factors. If you have hypertension, your doctor may recommend you:
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Quit smoking and using tobacco products
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Reduce your sodium intake
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Reduce your alcohol consumption
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Exercise more
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Lose weight
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Manage your stress levels
If your hypertension does not resolve or gets worse as you make changes to your habits, your medical provider may recommend medication to lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of developing diseases associated with it.
Which Medications Can Treat High Blood Pressure?
Medication can be an effective way of controlling high blood pressure. Some of the most common types of medication used to treat hypertension include:
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Diuretics: Also called water pills, diuretics can help your kidneys get rid of sodium and water, which can lower the amount of fluid in your blood. Common diuretics include thiazide, loop, and potassium-sparing diuretics.
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Calcium channel blockers: These drugs relax the muscles of your blood vessels by preventing calcium from entering them. Common calcium channel blockers include amlodipine (Norvasc) and diltiazem (Tiazac and Cardizem).
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Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: These drugs relax blood vessels by preventing the creation of a chemical that narrows them. Common ACE inhibitors include lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), captopril, and benazepril (Lotensin).
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Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs): These drugs relax blood vessels by blocking the action of a chemical that narrows them. Common ARBs are candesartan (Atacand) and losartan (Cozaar).
Other medications used to treat high blood pressure are alpha blockers, alpha-beta blockers, beta blockers, aldosterone antagonists, vasodilators, and renin inhibitors.
If you have high blood pressure that isn’t resolved by lifestyle changes alone, your medical provider may recommend blood pressure medication. Every medication comes with pros and cons, and your provider can help you determine the best one for you.
You may take medication for only a period of time until your blood pressure improves, or you may take it long-term.
Either way, your doctor can help you determine the best action plan for controlling your hypertension and reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease and other medical risks associated with high blood pressure.