What is hypertension?
Hypertension occurs when the force of the blood pumping against the walls of your arteries is consistently high for an extended period. Over time, this causes damage to your blood vessels, increasing your risk of heart disease.
Many people with hypertension experience no symptoms. That means you might be at risk and not realize it. Routine checkups are one of the easiest ways to catch hypertension early on.
With healthy lifestyle changes and medication, it’s possible to prevent the problem from getting worse.
What are the types of hypertension?
There are two types of hypertension, including:
Primary hypertension
Primary hypertension occurs for no obvious reason. It’s the most common type of high blood pressure and tends to occur slowly over a period of years.
Secondary hypertension
Secondary hypertension is the result of an underlying health problem. It strikes suddenly and causes higher blood pressure than primary hypertension. Some of the most common causes of secondary hypertension include kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and thyroid problems.
Who is at risk of hypertension?
Hypertension affects people of all ages and races, but several factors may increase your risk, including:
- Being overweight
- Living a primarily sedentary lifestyle
- Using tobacco
- Drinking alcohol
- Stress
- Eating foods with lots of sodium
High blood pressure is most common in adults, but it affects children and teens as well. You can significantly lower your child’s risk by encouraging healthy eating and regular exercise.
How is hypertension diagnosed?
To diagnose hypertension, Dr. Akamangwa uses a pressure measuring-gauge and an inflatable arm cuff. A blood pressure reading has two numbers. A healthy, normal reading is 120/80 mm Hg or lower. Any reading higher than that is considered hypertension.
Blood pressure varies from day-to-day. Before making a diagnosis, Dr. Akamangwa takes your blood pressure at two or three separate appointments.
How is hypertension treated?
Treatment for hypertension usually involves a combination of healthy lifestyle changes, prayer, and prescription medication.
If you have mild hypertension, Dr. Akamangwa might recommend exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, losing weight, and limiting the amount of alcohol you drink.
If these changes don’t significantly improve your numbers, you might benefit from prescription medication like diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, or calcium channel blockers.
Ultimately, the goal of treatment is to encourage cardiovascular health while lowering the risk of a heart attack or stroke.
To learn more about treatment for hypertension, request a consultation at Charis Medical Center. Book an appointment online, or call the office to speak with a member of the administrative staff today.
