Could You Be One of the Millions of Americans Who Has High Blood Pressure and Doesn't Know It?

Some severe health conditions, which can be life-threatening, come with warning signs and symptoms. Though severe symptoms can be scary to experience, there’s also cause for concern when any symptoms don’t accompany potentially dangerous health conditions.

More than 10 million adults in the United States are affected by high blood pressure, and many may not even know there’s a problem. That’s why high blood pressure is sometimes known as “the silent killer.”

So, how do you protect yourself against a dangerous condition that commonly presents without any symptoms? Talk to the team at Triad Internal Medicine in Asheboro, North Carolina, about the best screening and prevention plan for you. When you get a physical exam that includes checking your numbers, you could save your future self from serious consequences!

Here, the team offers some important guidelines.

Understanding the risks of high blood pressure

Not everyone who has problems with high blood pressure has symptoms. Or, you might experience mild symptoms like headaches, nosebleeds, or shortness of breath, dismissing these signs as temporary discomfort.

However, high blood pressure can become a serious health issue and even kill. This condition can result in heart problems, including heart attacks and heart failure, strokes, aneurysms, vision issues, and dementia.

You have a heightened risk of high blood pressure if you’re of African heritage or if this condition runs in your family. Men have a higher risk of high blood pressure than women before age 60. After age 60, the risk increases for women.

The way you live also impacts your risk for high blood pressure. Your risk goes up if you’re overweight or obese, if you lead a sedentary lifestyle, or if you use tobacco or drink alcohol to excess. The amount of salt in your diet also matters, as does your potassium intake. You need less salt and more potassium to improve your blood pressure.

Getting tested for high blood pressure

Your blood pressure reading contains a top systolic number and a bottom diastolic number. These numbers measure the pressure or force your blood exerts against your artery walls.

A normal blood pressure reading has a systolic number less than 120 and a diastolic number lower than 80. Your blood pressure could be too low or too high. High blood pressure is a more common condition.

Stress can increase your blood pressure. This can be a chronic issue over time. It can also be the case that you tend to test high because of stress related to the test itself! The team at Triad Internal Medicine can help you interpret your blood pressure test results and give you the right recommendations to protect your health going forward.

We check your blood pressure at a few appointments to ensure an accurate picture. We may even ask you to take your blood pressure at home. 

When you know you have high blood pressure, you can take steps to improve your lifestyle and protect your health. Getting tested is the first step.

Schedule an appointment at Triad Internal Medicine online or over the phone today, and learn more about your blood pressure numbers.