When did you last check your blood pressure? It might seem like a strange question, but if you aren’t familiar with your numbers, you could have a higher risk of heart disease and other medical issues.
At Plainsboro Princeton Medical Associates in Plainsboro Township and Monroe, New Jersey, experienced internal medicine physician Aruna Chakala, MD, regularly diagnoses and treats high blood pressure in adults.
Since May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month, there’s no better time to evaluate your blood pressure. Keep reading to learn what high blood pressure is, when to be concerned, and how it gets treated.
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common but serious medical condition that occurs when the pressure of the blood pumping through your veins remains too high for extended periods. It usually doesn’t present any symptoms, which is why doctors often call it “the silent killer.”
Blood pressure readings feature two numbers and look like this: 120/80 mm/Hg. The first number refers to your systolic blood pressure, which measures the force of the blood pumped by your heart. The second number refers to your diastolic blood pressure, which measures the force of your blood between heartbeats.
The American Heart Association defines normal blood pressure as 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm/HG) or lower. However, measurements over that threshold indicate high blood pressure, of which there are several categories, including:
Don’t ignore it if your blood pressure reading falls into these categories. Without treatment, high blood pressure increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other medical issues.
Since high blood pressure rarely presents symptoms, we recommend getting screened at least once annually to catch the issue early on before it causes more serious health problems. However, if you have a family history of high blood pressure or heart disease, more frequent screenings may be necessary.
Even if you don’t have a family history of heart disease, consider any elevated blood pressure reading a call to action. While there’s no cure, intervention and treatment can prevent the issue from worsening and reduce your risk of lasting implications.
Dr. Chakala takes a conservative, integrative approach to treating high blood pressure. Although no two care plans are identical, we often recommend:
Often, these lifestyle changes are enough to reduce high blood pressure significantly. However, if your numbers remain high, we may recommend prescription medication, such as diuretics (water pills), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, or calcium channel blockers. Each drug works differently but aims to improve heart function and support healthy circulation.
Learning that you have high blood pressure can be stressful, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have heart disease. Partnering with a qualified physician can help keep your heart healthy and your blood pressure within the optimal range. Call our office at 609-799-5000 or request an appointment online today.
We look forward to partnering with you!
