Hypertension
Did you know that over half of the adult population in America has high blood pressure or “hypertension”? When left untreated, this can lead to a myriad of adverse outcomes including, but not limited to heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke.
All this sounds scary, but it doesn’t have to be. We compiled a guide below to help you optimize your blood pressure.
What is hypertension?
Let’s start off by defining the disease.
Hypertension can be split into 2 stages:
- Stage 1: 130-139/80-89
- Stage 2: greater than 140/90
*If either the top OR the bottom number is consistently elevated, then you may have hypertension.
How do you get hypertension?
Treatment consists of a combination of lifestyle changes and/or appropriate medication.
Lifestyle changes for hypertension can be summarized in 4 steps.
1. Limit substance use: Smoking, drinking, certain drugs can all contribute to hypertension.
2. Eating healthy– lowering your salt intake to less than 3g a day can decrease your risk of hypertension
3. Sleep better– getting less than 7 hrs of sleep a night increases your risk of hypertension.
4. Stay active– the more you exercise, the less risk of hypertension
While lifestyle changes should always be implemented, the choice to medicate is best determined by a doctor.
How do I know what medications to take?
This is the tricky part. There are several classes of medications, each with their own mechanisms of action and side effects. There is no single best drug for everyone. Rather, treatment is best tailored to each individual.
What are the next steps?
This is where Zhu Family Medicine comes in. We are a Houston based, primary care practice located 5 minutes from the Galleria. Let us work together to craft a custom plan to optimize your blood pressure and get your life back on track!
