Elevated Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a common health concern. It's when the pressure in your blood vessels is higher than it should be. Doctors measure blood pressure using millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). There are different levels of high blood pressure, categorized by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.

• Normal blood pressure: Your blood pressure reading is lower than 120/80 mm Hg. This is the ideal level.
• Elevated blood pressure: Your top number (systolic pressure) is between 120 and 129 mm Hg, and your bottom number (diastolic pressure) is below 80 mm Hg. This means your blood pressure is slightly higher than normal. It's not yet considered high blood pressure, but it's a warning sign.
• Stage 1 hypertension: Your top number is between 130 and 139 mm Hg, or your bottom number is between 80 and 89 mm Hg. This is a more serious level of high blood pressure.
• Stage 2 hypertension: Your top number is 140 mm Hg or higher, or your bottom number is 90 mm Hg or higher. This is considered high blood pressure and requires immediate medical attention.

Elevated blood pressure isn't a full-blown health problem in itself, but it's a signal that something needs to change. If left unchecked, elevated blood pressure often progresses to high blood pressure (hypertension). This is why regular blood pressure checks are crucial. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and a balanced diet, is important for controlling and preventing high blood pressure.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure, whether elevated or in more advanced stages, significantly increases the risk of serious health problems. These include heart attacks and strokes. Some studies suggest that long-term high blood pressure can also affect cognitive functions, potentially leading to problems with memory, thinking, and judgment (cognitive decline).

High blood pressure often has no noticeable symptoms. This means you might not feel anything wrong even if your blood pressure is too high. The only way to know if your blood pressure is elevated is to get it checked regularly. Visiting your doctor for a blood pressure reading is a good first step. You can also use a home blood pressure monitor to check your blood pressure at home, which can be helpful for tracking your readings over time.

Checking blood pressure is important for both kids and adults. Doctors should measure children's blood pressure during their regular checkups, starting when they turn three. If a child has high blood pressure, the doctor will check it at every follow-up visit.

For adults, 18 and older, getting your blood pressure checked at least every other year is a good idea. If you have high blood pressure or other things that might increase your risk for heart problems, like high cholesterol or a family history of heart disease, you may need to get it checked more often. This is something you should discuss with your doctor.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, happens when the force of blood pushing against your artery walls gets too high. This pressure can be increased by several factors.

One common cause is a buildup of fatty substances like cholesterol and fats on the artery walls. This buildup, called atherosclerosis, makes the arteries narrower, increasing the pressure needed for blood to flow. Importantly, the relationship works both ways. High blood pressure can actually cause this buildup of plaque over time.

Sometimes, doctors can't pinpoint the exact reason for high blood pressure. This is sometimes called "essential hypertension."

However, several conditions and medications can contribute to high blood pressure. These include:

• Problems with the adrenal glands: These glands produce hormones that can affect blood pressure.
• Congenital heart defects: Some heart problems present from birth can affect blood flow and pressure.
• Certain illegal drugs: Drugs like cocaine and amphetamines can significantly raise blood pressure.
• Kidney disease: Kidney problems can disrupt the body's ability to regulate blood pressure.
• Obstructive sleep apnea: This sleep disorder, where breathing repeatedly stops and starts, can lead to high blood pressure.
• Some medications: Many over-the-counter and prescription drugs can raise blood pressure. This includes birth control pills, cold and sinus medications, some pain relievers with caffeine, and various other prescriptions.
• Thyroid problems: An overactive or underactive thyroid can affect blood pressure regulation.

It's crucial to talk to your doctor about all medications you're taking, including over-the-counter drugs. This way, your doctor can help identify any potential contributors to your blood pressure and work with you to find the best treatment plan.

High blood pressure, sometimes called hypertension, can affect anyone, even children. It's a serious condition that can lead to heart problems and strokes later in life. Several factors increase the risk of developing high blood pressure:

• Weight: Being overweight or obese significantly raises the risk. Extra weight puts extra stress on your heart and blood vessels, making your blood pressure go up. This extra strain can lead to heart disease and strokes.

• Family history: If your parents or siblings have high blood pressure, you're more likely to develop it too. This is because genes play a role in how your body regulates blood pressure.

• Lack of exercise: A sedentary lifestyle often leads to weight gain, which, as mentioned, is a major risk factor. Exercise helps your heart and blood vessels function better, keeping blood pressure in a healthier range.

• Diet: A diet high in salt (sodium) and low in potassium can lead to high blood pressure. Sodium makes your body hold onto water, increasing the volume of blood flowing through your vessels. Potassium helps balance this effect. A balanced diet with the right amount of both is crucial.

• Smoking: Smoking cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or being exposed to secondhand smoke can significantly raise blood pressure. The chemicals in tobacco damage blood vessels, making them less flexible and increasing pressure.

• Alcohol: Drinking too much alcohol, especially for men, can contribute to high blood pressure. Alcohol can affect the way your body manages blood volume and pressure.

• Medical conditions: Certain health problems, like kidney disease, diabetes, and sleep apnea, can make you more prone to high blood pressure. These conditions can directly affect the regulation of blood pressure.

• Age and Race: As you get older, your risk of high blood pressure increases. This is partly due to natural changes in the body as we age. Additionally, high blood pressure is more common and often develops earlier in life in Black people compared to white people.

• Kidney or heart problems: In some children, underlying kidney or heart conditions can cause high blood pressure. If a child is experiencing high blood pressure, it's crucial to get a medical evaluation to determine the cause.

Poor lifestyle choices, like unhealthy eating habits, obesity, and a lack of physical activity, also contribute to high blood pressure in children. These lifestyle factors can lead to weight gain and other health problems, increasing the child's risk for high blood pressure in the future. It's important to maintain a healthy lifestyle from a young age to minimize the risk of high blood pressure.

High blood pressure, sometimes called hypertension, is a serious health problem. If your blood pressure is higher than normal for a period of time, it can develop into a long-term condition. This means your blood pressure stays consistently elevated. High blood pressure can harm your organs. It makes you more likely to have a heart attack, heart failure, stroke, an aneurysm (a bulge in a blood vessel), or kidney failure. Basically, high blood pressure puts a strain on your body's vital systems, increasing your risk of serious health issues.

Making healthy lifestyle choices can both treat and prevent high blood pressure. A healthy diet, reduced salt intake, not smoking, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, and stress management are all key parts of this.

For example, eating nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help lower blood pressure. Cutting back on salty foods is also important. Smoking raises blood pressure and is harmful in many ways, so avoiding it is crucial. Regular physical activity, such as brisk walking or swimming, helps the heart and blood vessels function better, lowering blood pressure. Keeping a healthy weight is good for overall health and can help control blood pressure. If you do drink alcohol, limiting your intake is recommended. Finally, managing stress through relaxation techniques or activities you enjoy can also contribute to healthy blood pressure.

A blood pressure test checks for high blood pressure. Doctors might do this as part of a regular checkup or to screen for high blood pressure (also called hypertension).

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). This measurement has two parts.

Elevated blood pressure is when the top number is between 120 and 129 mm Hg, and the bottom number is below 80 mm Hg.

Doctors don't diagnose high blood pressure from just one reading. They need to see a pattern of high readings. To get an accurate diagnosis, the readings need to be taken on different days, and in the same way each time. The first time your blood pressure is checked, it's measured in both arms. If there's a difference, the arm with the higher reading is used for future checks.

Sometimes, doctors use a longer test called ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). This tracks blood pressure over several hours, even days. It's done using a special device, but not every clinic has this equipment. Check with your insurance company to see if ABPM is covered.

You might also be asked to check your blood pressure at home. Home blood pressure monitors are available at pharmacies and stores. Some models keep a record of your readings.

If you have elevated or high blood pressure, your doctor might do more tests to find out what's causing it. These could include:

• Complete blood count (CBC): Checks the different types of blood cells.
• Cholesterol test (lipid profile): Looks at your cholesterol levels.
• Blood sugar (glucose) test: Checks your blood sugar levels.
• Kidney function tests: Evaluates how well your kidneys are working.
• Thyroid function tests: Checks the function of your thyroid gland.

Your doctor might also order an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This is a quick, painless test that measures your heart's electrical activity. Small sensors (electrodes) are placed on your chest, and sometimes your arms or legs. The electrodes are connected to a machine that shows the results on a graph or printout.

Important notes about blood pressure readings:

• Top number (systolic): This is the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats (contracts).
• Bottom number (diastolic): This is the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, often needs changes to your daily habits and, sometimes, medicine.

If you have high blood pressure along with diabetes, kidney problems, or heart disease, your doctor will likely suggest both lifestyle changes and blood pressure medication. These conditions increase the risk of further health problems, so medication helps protect your heart and other organs.

But if you have high blood pressure and no other significant health issues like heart disease, the need for medicine might be less certain. Your doctor will consider your overall health and risk factors to decide if medication is the best approach for you.

Whether you have mild (stage 1) or more serious (stage 2) high blood pressure, treatment usually involves a combination of medicine (if needed) and healthy lifestyle changes. These lifestyle changes are important because they can help to lower your blood pressure and keep it under control. Examples of these changes might include eating a healthier diet, getting regular exercise, and managing stress.

High blood pressure increases your risk of heart problems. Controlling it is crucial, and it starts with healthy habits.

Healthy Eating: Eating well is key. A diet like the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is a good example. Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats (like poultry and fish), and low-fat dairy. Getting enough potassium from foods like bananas and potatoes can help lower blood pressure. Cut back on foods high in saturated and trans fats.

Reduce Sodium: Many processed foods, like canned goods, processed meats, and some breads, contain hidden salt (sodium). Check food labels to see how much sodium is in each serving. Try to limit your daily sodium intake to less than 1,500 milligrams (mg) – even better if you can get it below 1,000 mg.

Manage Your Weight: Losing weight, if you're overweight or obese, can significantly help control your blood pressure and reduce the risk of health problems. Talk to your doctor about a healthy weight range for you. Generally, losing about 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) can lower your blood pressure by about 1 point. This effect might be even more noticeable if you already have high blood pressure.

Exercise Regularly: Regular physical activity is important for overall health. It can help lower blood pressure, reduce stress, manage weight, and lower your risk of other health problems. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, like brisk walking, or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise, like running, each week, or a combination of both.

Limit Alcohol: If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means no more than one drink a day for women and no more than two drinks a day for men.

Don't Smoke: Smoking damages blood vessels and speeds up the process of hardening of the arteries. If you smoke, talk to your doctor about ways to quit.

Manage Stress: Finding ways to cope with stress is important. Exercise, mindfulness techniques, and connecting with support groups can all help reduce stress levels.