Usually high blood pressure (hypertension) is defined as blood pressure above 130/80, and is considered severe if the pressure is above 180/120.
Many people who have high blood pressure have it for no apparent reason. Many of these people have had parents or relatives and high blood pressure and it is genetically influenced. Other factors that can raise the risk of having essential hypertension include obesity; diabetes; stress; insufficient intake of potassium, calcium, and magnesium; lack of physical activity; and chronic alcohol consumption.
If you have high blood pressure, this higher pressure puts extra strain on your heart and blood vessels. Over time, this extra strain increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke. High blood pressure can also cause heart and kidney disease, and is closely linked to some forms of dementia.
your heart pumps almost 1 million times a week. The heart is basically just a pump and the blood vessels are the hoses coming out of the pump. Just like any pump, the pump won’t last if the pressure out of the pump is high. Taking blood pressure medicine basically relieves the pressure on the pump and allows the pump to last longer and the blood vessels to last longer.
High blood pressure cannot be felt until it is very high. Many people have high blood pressure do not realize they have high blood pressure and if untreated will have early heart attacks and strokes.
There are many different blood pressure medications and most are now once a day and easy to take. Coming to first Care today and let us check your blood pressure and treat your high blood pressure if you have it.