Things People With High Blood Pressure Needs to Know

High blood pressure causes heart attacks, kidney failure, and strokes. Your blood pressure is considered high if it goes over 130/80 mm Hg. To avoid further complications, following the health advice of your internal medicine doctor is extremely important. Here are the things you need to learn if you have high blood pressure.

1. Check your blood pressure regularly

Everyone is recommended to check their blood pressure regularly, once a year at least. This includes other screenings for cancers and depression. In addition, the frequency of blood pressure screening depends on the person and their current health condition or situation. A young and physically fit adult can have a yearly screening but an older person’s blood pressure should be checked more often. As people age, the chances of getting a high blood pressure goes up. Here are some risk factors for high blood pressure:

• Being overweight
• Eating too much salt
• Lack of exercise
• Smoking

People with chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or kidney disease. Checking their blood pressure regularly will help them learn how to keep their blood pressure in control. One is switching to a healthier diet and lifestyle. Your doctor will teach you the best treatment plan for you.

2. A Diagnosis Requires Repeated Blood Pressure Measurements

Blood pressure also fluctuates throughout the day. For example, if you are in a situation that will make you nervous like in a doctor’s office. This is also known as white-coat hypertension. Several readings are required to make sure that you actually have hypertension.

One standard method to know if the patient has high blood pressure is by using an electronic machine after five relaxed minutes in the examination room. Some blood pressures are measured throughout a 24-hour period using a specialized home monitor or by logging blood pressure readings done at home.

Measuring blood pressures at home is more efficient than doing it in a hospital because you are more calm. Patients must record their home blood pressure readings for one week. After the allotted time for measurements, a weighted average is calculated. These logs will help your doctor to determine if you have high blood pressure and can it be managed.

3. Get only the upper arm blood pressure monitor

Other types of blood pressure monitor include the wrist monitor and finger monitor. The best type among these is the upper arm blood pressure monitor since the monitors that are wrapped around the wrist and the one placed on the finger are not as reliable. Also, make sure that the cuff fits perfectly around your upper arm. A cuff too big or too small will not give you accurate readings.

If you want to be sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist about the home blood pressure monitor you should buy. Home blood pressure monitors are available online, in pharmacies, grocery stores, etc.

4. Make Lifestyle Changes to Avoid or Reduce Medication

Sometimes lifestyle changes will be enough to bring your blood pressure down. In other cases, you may need a combination of lifestyle changes and medication to control your blood pressure.

Reducing sodium intake right away is a relatively simple thing to do, like avoiding canned foods and not adding salt to meals. The American Heart Association came up with the “salty six” to help people be aware of popular foods with high sodium content. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension trial, or DASH diet, is also recommended by healthcare professionals as a way to manage blood pressure. It’s a flexible eating plan that has been shown to lower blood pressure and LDL ("bad") cholesterol.

One of the most important things that people can do is to get their body mass index under 25. Even losing 10 to 15 pounds can help people come off of their blood pressure medication or reduce the amount of medication they’re taking.

5. Know the Signs of Heart Attacks and Strokes

Heart attacks and strokes are common emergencies related to high blood pressure and can be life threatening. If you have high blood pressure, it’s critical that you and those around you recognize the signs of a heart attack or stroke. Signs of an impending stroke include slurred speech and blurry vision. If you begin to experience these symptoms or someone with you notices your acting strangely, contact emergency services immediately.

It’s also important to know that the signs of a heart attack can differ for men and women. Some men experience chest pressure, nausea with or without vomiting, and cold or clammy skin. Women often complain of sudden-onset shortness of breath with or without chest pressure, generalized fatigue, and nausea with or without vomiting.

6. Medication and Lesser-Known Health Conditions that Cause High Blood Pressure

Some prescription medication can raise your blood pressure. Examples include asthma medication and hormone therapies like birth control pills or estrogen. Over-the-counter cold medicines like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) can also raise your blood pressure. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about ways to avoid medication interactions. There’s also evidence that health conditions like sleep apnea, chronic kidney disease, and thyroid problems can raise your blood pressure. Keeping blood pressure in check helps decrease complications and improves lifestyles.

Medical centre in Abu Dhabi

Adam and Eve Specialized Medical Centre’s internal medicine doctor will help you determine if you have high blood pressure as soon as possible to provide you with the necessary treatments right away. Book a consultation with our internal medicine doctor.