What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure — also called hypertension — is a condition in which the pressure of the blood flowing through your arteries and veins puts too much pressure on the walls of those blood vessels. Left untreated, hypertension can cause:
- Strokes
- Heart attacks
- Heart failure
- Aneurysms
- Eye problems
- Kidney problems
- Memory problems and dementia
Around 1 in 2 American adults is living with high blood pressure. The problem is that because hypertension doesn’t cause any symptoms, many people don’t know their blood pressure is too high, threatening their long-term health.
To keep you informed about your blood pressure levels, your Encino Park Family Health & Wellness Clinic provider can check your blood pressure every time you visit the office.
How do I find out if I have high blood pressure?
A blood pressure test is fast, noninvasive, and completely comfortable. During it, you sit as a cuff around your arm inflates. This pressure cuff then releases the pressure on your arm, measuring your blood flow as it does.
This provides two readings: your systolic blood pressure (the pressure on your blood vessel walls as your heart beats) and your diastolic pressure (the pressure between beats) measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Healthy systolic blood pressure levels are below 120 mm Hg, while healthy diastolic blood pressure levels fall below 80 mm Hg.
If your systolic levels are slightly elevated (120-129 mm Hg) your Encino Park Family Health & Wellness Clinic provider can suggest changes you can make to bring your blood pressure back down to healthy levels.
If your systolic blood pressure is 130 mm Hg or more and your diastolic levels are over 80 mm Hg, you have high blood pressure. Fortunately, you can get started with high blood pressure treatment to bring you levels back down and protect against life-threatening conditions.
What does high blood pressure treatment involve?
The team at Encino Park Family Health & Wellness Clinic takes a conservative approach, working with you to make lifestyle changes to reduce your blood pressure levels.
Since high blood pressure is directly linked to an unhealthy lifestyle, these changes can make a dramatic difference.
If lifestyle changes aren’t sufficient to lower your blood pressure, you can also explore medication options with your Encino Park Family Health & Wellness Clinic provider.
Schedule your blood pressure check today by calling the office or making an appointment online.
