High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, also commonly known as hypertension, can lead to cardiovascular problems if left untreated. Routine blood pressure screenings at Absolute Healthcare in Spring Hill, Port Richey, and Tampa, Florida, can detect elevated blood pressure before it turns into serious health complications. Call the nearest office or book an in-person or telehealth consultation online today.

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a medical condition that raises your risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and stroke. 

It occurs when the pressure inside your blood vessel walls is higher than it’s normally supposed to be. 

Absolute Healthcare offers blood pressure screening and treatment to ensure you stay healthy throughout your adult life. 

What are some symptoms of high blood pressure?

Since high blood pressure is typically a silent disease, many patients won’t experience any symptoms until other health problems appear. 

However, in some cases, people experience headaches, shortness of breath, or nosebleeds. These might only appear when your blood pressure reaches life-threatening stages.

Other signs of severe high blood pressure might include:

• Vision problems
• Chest pain
• Irregular heartbeat
• Difficulty breathing

The best way to prevent high blood pressure is to take a proactive approach to your health and make preventive health care an essential part of your long-term health plan. 

What are the risk factors for high blood pressure?

Several factors may increase your risk of developing high blood pressure.

You may have a higher risk of high blood pressure as a result of:

• Being overweight or obese
• Older age
• Pregnancy
• Family history of high blood pressure
• Being physically inactive
• Using tobacco products
• Having too much sodium in your diet
• Getting too little potassium in your diet
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Stress

High blood pressure can also lead to many chronic diseases, including coronary artery disease (CAD) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). 

How is high blood pressure diagnosed?

To diagnose high blood pressure, your provider measures your blood pressure using an inflatable cuff that you wear around your arm. The cuff tightly squeezes and then releases, which enables your provider to measure the force of your blood as your heart beats (systolic) and in between your heartbeats (diastolic).

Below 120 systolic reading and below 80 diastolic reading is considered normal blood pressure. Elevated blood pressure is a reading of 130-139 systolic or 80-89 diastolic. At 140 or higher systolic and above 90 diastolic, you have high blood pressure. 

What are the treatments for high blood pressure?

Absolute Healthcare takes a whole-person approach to care. Your provider can recommend treatments to lower your blood pressure levels and help improve your overall health. 

They might help you with: 

Lifestyle modifications

Healthy lifestyle changes is one the best things you can do to lower blood pressure naturally. Your provider might recommend exercising regularly, reducing stress levels, achieving or maintaining a healthy weight range, and limiting the amount of sodium in your diet and alcohol you consume. 

Medications

If lifestyle modifications haven’t helped to lower your blood pressure, your provider may prescribe blood pressure medications to bring your levels down to a normal range.

High blood pressure is preventable with proper care at Absolute Healthcare. Call the nearest office or book an in-person or telehealth consultation online today.