Blood Pressure
[qode_elements_holder number_of_columns=”two_columns”][qode_elements_holder_item advanced_animations=”no” item_padding=”170px 19% 170px 0px” item_padding_1280_1440=”165px 11% 170px 0px” item_padding_600_768=”90px 33% 80px 0px” item_padding_480_600=”100px 0%” item_padding_480=”100px 0%”]
[/qode_elements_holder_item][/qode_elements_holder]
Measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), your blood pressure moves your blood against the blood vessel walls. This is measured in two numbers, the systolic (top) number and the diastolic (bottom) number. The systolic number measures the pressure when your heart beats, while the diastolic number tracks the pressure when your heart rests during beats.
[/qode_elements_holder_item][qode_elements_holder_item advanced_animations=”no” custom_class=”about-feat-1-right”]
[qode_elements_holder number_of_columns=”one_column”][qode_elements_holder_item horizontal_alignment=”center” advanced_animations=”no” item_padding=”107px 16% 70px” item_padding_768_1024=”107px 10% 70px” item_padding_600_768=”107px 4% 70px” item_padding_480_600=”107px 0% 70px” item_padding_480=”107px 0% 70px”]
[/qode_elements_holder_item][/qode_elements_holder]
What is a “Normal” Blood Pressure?
A normal blood pressure reading is 120 mm Hg and 80 mm Hg. Those with readings outside of this range fall into these categories:
- Elevated blood pressure: 120-129 mm Hg and below 80 mm Hg
- High blood pressure (hypertension) stage 1: 130-139 mm Hg or 80-89 mm Hg
- High blood pressure (hypertension) stage 2: 140 or above mm Hg or 90 or higher mm Hg
- Hypertensive crisis (receive immediate medical attention): higher than 180 mm Hg and/or above 120 mm Hg
[qode_elements_holder number_of_columns=”one_column”][qode_elements_holder_item advanced_animations=”no” item_padding_768_1024=”80px 10% 70px” item_padding_600_768=”80px 4% 70px” item_padding_480_600=”80px 0% 70px” item_padding_480=”80px 0% 70px” item_padding=”80px 16% 70px”]
[/qode_elements_holder_item][/qode_elements_holder]
Why Does it Matter?
Unfortunately, you can have high blood pressure and not show any symptoms, and up to half of all Americans over age 20 suffer from high blood pressure without knowing it. If you have high blood pressure, your risk of health issues increases significantly, including:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Vision problems
- Heart failure
- Erectile dysfunction
- Kidney disease/failure
- Other serious health conditions
[qode_elements_holder number_of_columns=”one_column”][qode_elements_holder_item advanced_animations=”no” item_padding_768_1024=”80px 10% 70px” item_padding_600_768=”80px 4% 70px” item_padding_480_600=”80px 0% 70px” item_padding_480=”80px 0% 70px” item_padding=”80px 16% 70px”]
[/qode_elements_holder_item][/qode_elements_holder]
What Are the Risk Factors?
Certain risk factors make you more likely to develop high blood pressure. Factors that affect your blood pressure that you can control are:
- Smoking or exposure to smoke
- Diabetes
- Obesity or being overweight
- High cholesterol
- A poor diet (excessive sodium, low potassium, excessive alcohol consumption)
- Physical inactivity
There are some factors that impact your blood pressure but that you can’t control:
- A family history of high blood pressure
- Race/ethnicity
- Age
- Gender
- Chronic diseases, such as chronic kidney disease or obstructive sleep apnea
[qode_elements_holder number_of_columns=”one_column”][qode_elements_holder_item advanced_animations=”no” item_padding=”80px 16% 70px” item_padding_768_1024=”80px 10% 70px” item_padding_600_768=”80px 4% 70px” item_padding_480_600=”80px 0% 70px” item_padding_480=”80px 0% 70px”]
[/qode_elements_holder_item][/qode_elements_holder]
How Can I Treat High or Elevated Blood Pressure?
The first step in treating high or elevated blood pressure is getting it checked regularly by a healthcare professional. This person will properly register your blood pressure and diagnosis it using a few simple readings that are collected during your office visits. Blood pressure readings are painless; the cuff is applied to your arm and gradually applies pressure as the information to gather a reading is processed. You will feel slight pressure as the cuff tightens around your arms, and once the reading is established, the cuff will release. It’s short, simple, and it can make a big difference for your long-term health.
If you have unhealthy blood pressure, your physician or provider will recommend treatment that can include:
- Quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke.
- Maintaining a healthy weight.
- Eating a diet with: low saturated fat, trans fat, and recommended amounts of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.
- Consume less than 1,500 mg each day of sodium.
- Each potassium-rich foods, with a goal of reaching 3,500-5,000 mg of dietary potassium daily.
- Women should consume no more than one alcoholic drink per day and men should limit alcoholic drinks to two per day.
- Maintain physical activity: everyone should exercise for 90-150 minutes (aerobic exercise) or for three sessions (isometric exercise) weekly.
- Take prescription medicine as prescribed.
- Track your blood pressure and work to keep it at a healthy level.
[counter type=”zero” box=”no” position=”center” font_weight=”400″ text_font_weight=”600″ text_transform=”uppercase” separator=”no” digit=”3100″ font_size=”72″ font_color=”#ffffff” text=”Satissfied Clients” text_size=”18″ text_color=”#ffffff” element_appearance=”100″]
[counter type=”zero” box=”no” position=”center” font_weight=”400″ text_font_weight=”600″ text_transform=”uppercase” separator=”no” digit=”632″ font_size=”72″ font_color=”#ffffff” text=”Creative Projects” text_size=”18″ text_color=”#ffffff” element_appearance=”100″]
[counter type=”zero” box=”no” position=”center” font_weight=”400″ text_font_weight=”600″ text_transform=”uppercase” separator=”no” digit=”2830″ font_size=”72″ font_color=”#ffffff” text=”Satissfied Clients” text_size=”18″ text_color=”#ffffff” element_appearance=”100″]
[counter type=”zero” box=”no” position=”center” font_weight=”400″ text_font_weight=”600″ text_transform=”uppercase” separator=”no” digit=”933″ font_size=”72″ font_color=”#ffffff” text=”Creative Projects” text_size=”18″ text_color=”#ffffff” element_appearance=”100″]
What They Say
[qode_elements_holder number_of_columns=”one_column”][qode_elements_holder_item horizontal_alignment=”center” advanced_animations=”no” item_padding=”32px 6% 35px” item_padding_768_1024=”40px 10% 70px” item_padding_600_768=”40px 0% 70px” item_padding_480_600=”40px 0% 70px” item_padding_480=”40px 0% 70px”][testimonials order_by=”title” order=”ASC” author_image=”yes” show_navigation=”yes” navigation_style=”dark” auto_rotate_slides=”3″ animation_type=”fade_option”][/qode_elements_holder_item][/qode_elements_holder]
[button size=”big_large_full_width” target=”_self” hover_type=”default” text_align=”center” text=”Get in touch with us” link=”#” color=”#ffffff” hover_color=”#ffffff” background_color=”#000000″ hover_background_color=”#1c1c1c” border_color=”#000000″ hover_border_color=”#1c1c1c”]
[image_slider_no_space on_click=”prettyphoto” height=”300″ highlight_active_image=”no” images=”107,103,110,112,109,227,118,119″]