Hypertension
Hypertension, or high blood pressure (Spanish), is when your blood pressure is too high and stays high over time. Every time your heart beats, it pumps blood through vessels, called arteries, to the rest of your body. Your blood pressure is how hard your blood pushes against the walls of the arteries.
The best way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked. Most of the time, high blood pressure has no obvious symptoms. Its nickname is "The Silent Killer". Some people experience symptoms like headache, chest pain, shortness of breath, or changes in vision related to high blood pressure. It is important to talk to your doctor about any of these symptoms.
Approximately 1 in 3 adults in the United States have high blood pressure. Only half (54%) of this population have their high blood pressure under control.
Certain physical traits and lifestyle choices can put you at a greater risk for high blood pressure. Family history, unhealthy diet, smoking, and lack of physical activity are a few examples of things that put you at risk for high blood pressure.
For most people, a healthy blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg. Contact your doctor if your blood pressure numbers are regularly above 140/90 mmHg.
Watch a short video about high blood pressure. English / Spanish
How to understand your blood pressure numbers: English PDF / Spanish PDF
Complications
Untreated and uncontrolled high blood pressure can damage the blood vessels of the organs, including eyes, kidneys, heart, and brain and can cause blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, and stroke, respectively.
Click here to learn about how symptoms of a heart attack may look different for women.
Look out for the signs of stroke listed below and call for help immediately.
How to Manage High Blood Pressure
With proper treatment and management, you can control your blood pressure to help you live a long and healthy life. Small steps to take control of your blood pressure: English PDF Spanish PDF
Here are some steps you can take to keep your blood pressure in a healthy range:
- See your doctor at least twice a year to get your blood pressure and lab work checked.
- Make healthy food choices, such as eating more vegetables, limit salty foods and eat lean proteins such as fish and chicken.
- Learn about your stress and your health - English PDF / Spanish PDF
- Learn about physical activity and your health -English PDF / Spanish PDF
- Learn about sleep and your health -English PDF / Spanish PDF
- Learn about alcohol and your health - English PDF / Spanish PDF
It is recommended to check your blood pressure at home regularly. Write these numbers down in a book and share them with your doctor at each visit. Learn how to check your blood pressure at home correctly: English / Spanish
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Hypertension Care Companion
Care Companion is an interactive care plan available through MyChart to provide education and tracking tools to help manager your high blood pressure. If you are interested in this program, please contact your Parkland primary care doctor for more information.