High Blood Pressure

Risk factors for hypertension include:

• Age – risk increases significantly after 45 for men and after 65 for women 
• Family history of hypertension 
• Race – in particular, African Americans are at increased risk 
• Obesity – which causes the body to use more blood
• Sedentary lifestyle – which raises the heart rate and can lead to obesity
• Smoking – which damages the lining of the artery walls
• Too much sodium – which causes the body to retain fluid
• Too little potassium – causing an overabundance of sodium 
• Excessive alcohol use – more than two drinks per day
• Chronic stress – which can have lasting effects on blood pressure

Healthy lifestyle behaviors that can help reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure include:

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Exercising regularly
• Eating a healthy diet
• Avoiding sodium
• Limiting alcohol consumption
• Controlling stress
• Quitting smoking, if you smoke

Hypertension is largely a condition with no symptoms.

When blood pressure reaches exceedingly high levels (known as hypertensive crisis), symptoms can include:

• Anxiety
• Nosebleeds 
• Severe headache
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Vision changes

Because high blood pressure is most often a silent disease, it’s important to have your blood pressure checked regularly and to take steps to keep your blood pressure within the normal range.

The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked. Your blood pressure is measured every time you go to your doctor’s office, but you can also measure your blood pressure yourself at a blood pressure kiosk or using a blood pressure cuff at home.

Blood pressure is considered normal if it’s less than 120/80. Your blood pressure is considered elevated or high if it’s 120/80 or higher.
If you’re self-monitoring your blood pressure and your numbers are consistently high, schedule an appointment with your doctor.

In early stages, elevated blood pressure can be managed by making lifestyle modifications.

If your blood pressure is already considered high, medications may be needed to help lower it. The type of medication prescribed depends on the stage of high blood pressure and whether you have other medical problems.

Many different classes of hypertension drugs are available. Common types include:

• Diuretics (also known as water pills) to lower the blood volume
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to help relax your blood vessels, lowering your blood pressure
• Calcium channel blockers to help relax your blood vessels, lowering your blood pressure
• Beta-blockers to widen blood vessels and ease the heart’s workload

Different drugs are often used in combination to control blood pressure.

To manage treatment-resistant hypertension, individuals are strongly advised to make behavioral and dietary changes. If these treatments are ineffective, additional measures, including interventional therapies such as renal denervation, may be recommended.