You Could Be Suffering From Hypertension and Not Know It

When something’s wrong with your health, you usually experience symptoms. Unfortunately, hypertension doesn’t usually produce noticeable symptoms. 

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects around 1.28 billion people worldwide, yet almost half are unaware they have it. That’s because hypertension typically doesn’t cause any symptoms. Left unchecked, hypertension increases your risk of heart attacks, dementia, vision loss, and premature death. 

Every time you visit Salem Wellness Clinic in Salem, Oregon, Laika Rodriguez, ND, and Katy Hernandez, FNP, BC, check your blood pressure during routine visits as a way of monitoring you for hypertension. 

Preventive care and education can help you avoid hypertension before it occurs, and mindful lifestyle changes can help lower your blood pressure naturally if you have hypertension. 

Interpreting your blood pressure reading

A simple blood pressure test involves an arm cuff that inflates and deflates. The blood pressure test provides two numbers representing your systolic and diastolic blood pressure. These numbers are measurements of millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

The first number, your systolic blood pressure, measures the force of blood against the walls of your veins during a heart contraction. The second number, or diastolic pressure, measures your blood pressure when your heart is at rest.  

Healthy blood pressure is in the range of 120 systolic and 80 diastolic, or 120/80 mmHg. Based on your blood pressure reading, you may be diagnosed with:

Stage 1 hypertension

Stage 1 hypertension ranges from 130-139 systolic and 80-89 diastolic. 

Stage 2 hypertension

Stage 2 hypertension is more likely to require medications. You have stage 2 hypertension if your blood pressure is consistently 140/90 mmHG or higher. 

A hypertensive crisis is blood pressure higher than 180/120 mmHG and is a medical emergency, especially if you experience other cardiac symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath. 

Know the causes

While everyone’s blood pressure rises a little with age, other factors contribute to hypertension, too. Some, like genetics, aren’t within your control. Others, like stress and unhealthy eating habits, can be addressed with lifestyle changes. 

Our experts at Salem Wellness Clinic help you take inventory of the causes you can control to help you make healthy lifestyle changes. 

How to manage high blood pressure

Making healthy lifestyle changes can help you keep your blood pressure within a manageable range. Some people need blood pressure medications to manage their hypertension, but Salem Wellness Clinic emphasizes the importance and effectiveness of natural treatments, such as:

• Weight management
• Exercise
• Smoking cessation
• Drinking less alcohol
• A low-sodium diet
• Stress management and mental health recommendations

Salem Wellness Clinic gives you a personalized comprehensive treatment plan to regulate your blood pressure and address any other health concerns. Book an appointment online or over the phone for naturopathic hypertension management today.