High Blood Pressure

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is a chronic health condition where the pressure inside the blood vessels consistently remains elevated and higher than is healthy for your veins and arteries. High blood pressure places increased work on your heart, lungs, and organs.

A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers: the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure. The systolic pressure indicates the pressure inside your blood vessels when your heart pumps while the diastolic pressure indicates the pressure inside your vessels between beats. 

A consistent systolic pressure higher than 140 and a diastolic pressure of greater than 90 means you have high blood pressure.  

High blood pressure is often called a silent disease because, typically, there are no symptoms, even though you may have significant damage to tissues and organs. Also called hypertension, this condition places you at a much higher risk for many serious health problems.

How does high blood pressure raise my health risks?

If you have high blood pressure, you are at significantly higher risk of:

• Stroke
• Heart disease
• Heart attack
• Vascular disease
• Pulmonary embolism
• Aneurysm
• Heart failure
• Kidney failure
• Neuropathy
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
• Coronary artery disease (CAD)

By treating your high blood pressure, LaSante Health Center helps you avoid these and other serious complications and helps protect your overall health and wellness for a lifetime. 

Who is at risk for high blood pressure?

You may be at higher-than-normal risk for high blood pressure if you:

• Are a smoker
• Are obese
• Are African American 
• Have a family history
• Have a sedentary lifestyle
• Have a diet high in fat or sodium
• Have a high-stress lifestyle
• Drink alcohol excessively

The only way to diagnose high blood pressure is with regular blood pressure checks. As part of your annual physical and during all other visits, your provider checks your blood pressure. 

If you have this condition, there are some steps you can take to improve your health and naturally lower your risks.  

How can I lower my high blood pressure?

You can lower your blood pressure and improve your risks for severe complications by:

• Eating a heart-healthy diet
• Exercising regularly
• Stopping smoking or tobacco use
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Managing stress and anxiety
• Avoiding excessive alcohol intake

LaSante Health Center develops a personalized plan of care that integrates personal lifestyle changes, ongoing monitoring, and medications. 

Working together, you and your provider can help lower your risks and protect your long-term health against the complications of high blood pressure.

For the management of high blood pressure, call or schedule an appointment online with LaSante Health Center today.