As recently as 2017, nearly 500,000 deaths in the United States were caused by issues related to hypertension, also known as high blood pressure. High blood pressure can also lead to various forms of heart disease and stroke. While more men than women deal with it, over 40% of both sexes are diagnosed. Understanding what causes high blood pressure and how to prevent it can mean the difference between getting healthier and being at greater risks for more dangerous conditions.
If you live in the Beverly Hills, CA area Dr. Shawn Veiseh has the expertise and experience to help you with hypertension and many other related needs.
The amount of force blood pushes against the arteries is what’s known as blood pressure. Blood is pumped into the arteries when your heartbeats and your blood pressure is highest when this happens. When measuring blood pressure this is known as systolic pressure. In between heartbeats, the heart is at rest, and the falling pressure that results is called diastolic pressure. When blood pressure is measured, these are the methods used.
When blood pressure reaches higher than 140 over 90 (140/90, or 140 systolic over 90 diastolic), you're dealing with high blood pressure, and are at risk for serious health issues.
Primary hypertension can develop over many years, and a direct cause hasn’t been determined. Secondary hypertension, on the other hand, can come from many conditions, including:
Various habits and lifestyle choices can increase the risk of hypertension, like:
Family history, age, race, and various chronic conditions can also increase the risk of hypertension. If left uncontrolled and untreated, it can lead to heart disease, heart attack, stroke, aneurysm, dementia, and metabolic syndrome.
Lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of high blood pressure, such as lowering the amount of salt in your diet, moderate exercise, limiting alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight. Managing stress is also very important.
These are also methods of handling high blood pressure after diagnosis at home. Medical methods of treating high blood pressure include alpha and beta-blockers, renin inhibitors, water pills, ACE inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers.
Methods of treating high blood pressure will vary depending on individual symptoms and severity of symptoms. If you have reason to believe you’re dealing with high blood pressure or other related conditions make an appointment with Dr. Veiseh today.
