High blood pressure is known as a “silent killer” because it often presents no symptoms before a serious health problem develops. Usman Javaid, MD, and Melody Wilkinson, AGPCNP, of Prevention First LLC in St. Louis, Missouri, understand the importance of screening for and treating high blood pressure. Schedule an appointment online or by phone today to learn your readings and explore treatment options, if needed.
The best way to understand high blood pressure is to think about the way your circulation system normally moves blood throughout your body. Each time your heart beats, it pumps blood into your arteries.
This pumping action creates pressure on artery walls. The pressure created during heartbeats is your systolic pressure; the pressure between heartbeats is your diastolic pressure. Blood pressure is recorded as systolic/diastolic, and a reading above 130/80 is considered high blood pressure, or hypertension.
Hypertension causes your heart and blood vessels to work harder than normal. Over time, this creates arterial damage, eventually causing a cycle that causes additional hypertension and even more damage.
Some of the health risks you face when you have high blood pressure include:
This is far from a comprehensive list. Virtually every system in your body is negatively affected when you have high blood pressure, and the risks increase the longer your blood pressure is uncontrolled.
At Prevention First LLC, practitioners begin by trying to identify the causal factors that led to high blood pressure. In some cases, changing your medications is helpful in bringing blood pressure down to healthier levels.
Medications can help treat high blood pressure. Some help widen blood vessels to improve the flow of blood, while others help your body eliminate excess water and sodium. A combination of medications is often the best way to control high blood pressure, and your drug therapy may change over time.
Making changes to your daily diet is a powerful way to reduce high blood pressure. By choosing fruit, vegetables, and healthy proteins, you give your body the fuel needed to thrive without high sodium and cholesterol, both of which affect your blood pressure.
Getting more exercise each day is also important. You don’t have to engage in extreme exercise; a simple daily walk can help reduce your blood pressure readings.
If you’d like to learn more, call Prevention First LLC to schedule a visit or use the easy online scheduling page to find a time that fits your busy life.