When your artery walls are continually being pushed against by too much blood, you have high blood pressure. Over time, this destroys your arteries, which puts you at risk for catastrophic problems including heart attack and stroke. The term “hypertension” is another name for this widespread ailment. High blood pressure is referred regarded by medical professionals as a “silent killer” since it frequently causes no symptoms. Therefore, even though you might not feel anything is wrong, your body is still suffering from the harm.
Blood pressure (BP) is the measurement of the pressure or force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. Your BP reading has two numbers:
– The top number is the systolic blood pressure, which measures the pressure on your artery walls when your heart beats or contracts.
– The bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure. This measures the pressure on your artery walls between beats when your heart is relaxing.
Healthcare providers measure blood pressure in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
The only method to determine whether your blood pressure is excessively high is to get it tested. Even if you feel healthy, you may do this by scheduling an annual exam with a medical professional. Even if you have high blood pressure, you won’t feel ill. Thus, these examinations are essential and potentially life-saving. Your doctor may advise lifestyle modifications and/or medication if your blood pressure is higher than usual.
Most of the time, high blood pressure is silent. Because of this, medical professionals refer to it as a “silent killer.” You can be unaware that you have high blood pressure for years. In fact, according to the World Health Organisation, 46% of persons with hypertension are unaware of their condition.
You may suffer symptoms like headaches, heart palpitations, or nosebleeds if your blood pressure is 180/120 mmHg or higher. A hypertensive crisis with this high blood pressure need urgent medical attention.
Contact Dr. Barbara Karin Vela today to schedule an appointment.