Unlike other chronic diseases like diabetes and kidney disease, high blood pressure develops without causing symptoms. That’s why it’s called the “silent killer.” Over time, high blood pressure damages the body, increasing the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
At Plainsboro Princeton Medical Associates in Plainsboro Township and Monroe, New Jersey, our experienced internal medicine physician, Dr. Aruna Chakrala, understands the dangers of high blood pressure, and that’s why we check our patients’ blood pressure at every visit.
In this month’s blog, we want to explain the dangers of high blood pressure and why it’s so critical that you get your numbers checked.
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is when the force of blood against the delicate walls of your arteries is too high for too long. Over time, the excessive pressure damages the walls, causing the arteries to narrow and stiffen, forcing the heart to pump harder.
High blood pressure is widespread, affecting almost 120 million adults in the United States, nearly 50% of the population. Of those with high blood pressure, only about 27 million have it under control.
Anyone can develop high blood pressure; your risk increases as you age. However, it’s more common in people who are overweight or obese, smoke, or have a family history of hypertension.
One of the biggest dangers of high blood pressure is you can’t feel it. When left undiagnosed or poorly treated (if it doesn’t cause symptoms, you may not worry about treatment), high blood pressure increases the risk of serious complications, including:
High blood pressure also affects sexual health and may lead to problems like erectile dysfunction (ED) in men and arousal dysfunction in women.
High blood pressure may lead to health problems that affect the quality and longevity of your life.
The first step towards preventing the dangers of high blood pressure is scheduling a physical exam every year with your doctor. This annual exam evaluates your total health and screens for high blood pressure and the risk factors for common chronic diseases.
Identifying risk factors or an early diagnosis may reduce the risk of related dangers by helping you gain control over your blood pressure and prevent damage to your arteries. Eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and smoking cessation are lifestyle changes that can improve blood pressure and health.
If blood pressure remains high even with lifestyle changes, we prescribe medication to lower the numbers.
High blood pressure is common and deadly when left uncontrolled. We can help you gain control over your blood pressure, benefiting your health now and later. Call our office at 609-799-5000 or request an appointment online today.
