(Some information provided by The American Heart Association.)
Many people have high blood pressure, also called HBP or hypertension, for years without knowing it. Most of the time, there are no symptoms, but when high blood pressure goes untreated, it damages arteries and vital organs throughout the body. That’s why high blood pressure is often called the “silent killer.” The organs in your body need oxygen to survive. Oxygen is carried through the body by the blood. When the heart beats, it creates pressure that pushes blood through a network of tube-shaped arteries and veins, also known as blood vessels and capillaries. The pressure — blood pressure — is the result of two forces. The first force occurs as blood pumps out of the heart and into the arteries that are part of the circulatory system. If ignored or not treated, the following possible health consequences can occur over time:
- Damage to the heart and coronary arteries: including heart attack, heart disease, congestive heart failure, aortic dissection and atherosclerosis (fatty buildups in the arteries that cause them to harden)
- Stroke
- Kidney damage
- Vision Loss
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Memory Loss
- Fluid in the lungs
- Angina
- Peripheral Artery disease
The good news is that it’s treatable. Based on your diagnosis, health care providers develop treatment plans for high blood pressure that include lifelong lifestyle changes and medicines to control high blood pressure; lifestyle changes such as weight loss can be highly effective in treating high blood pressure.
Healthy lifestyle habits can help you control high blood pressure. These habits include:
- Healthy eating
- Limited alcohol intake
- Physical activity
- Stress management
- Maintaining a healthy weight
If you have high blood pressure, the best thing to do is to talk with your health care provider and take steps to control your blood pressure by making healthy lifestyle changes and taking medications, if any have been prescribed for you.
We can help you gain control of your blood pressure. Contact us for information on how Star Access can encourage a healthy future.
