High blood pressure or hypertension is otherwise known as the “silent killer”. This is because the disease usually doesn’t show any symptoms while quietly deteriorating your body, increasing the risk of major health complications like a heart attack or a stroke. Fortunately, even though you can have this disease without even realizing it, detecting it is quite easy with the help of your primary care physician in Lamesa, Texas.
Understanding High Blood Pressure in Lamesa, Texas
Arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts of the body at a normal pressure that is usually 120/80 mmHg or less. Hypertension occurs when the force with which the blood pushes against your arteries is consistently too high. This is an extremely common chronic health condition, with a prevalence of roughly 32.3% of adults in Texas.
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Hypertension: Spotting the Risk Factors and Warning Signs
Hypertension can go unnoticed for a long time, with most people not even realizing they have it until serious related health issues arise. To detect this chronic health condition in time, knowing the risk factors that can contribute to its development and sharing the ones you have with your primary care provider is key. Additionally, understanding the main warning signs that might indicate that you could be suffering from this condition is also essential.
Risk Factors for Hypertension in Lamesa, Texas
There are certain risk factors that can contribute to the development of this condition, some of them include:
- Medical history: Direct family history of high blood pressure, pregnancy, and underlying health conditions (like kidney disease, diabetes, obesity, and thyroid issues, to name a few).
- Lifestyle: A sedentary lifestyle that makes your heart work harder to pump blood. A diet rich in sodium that makes the body retain fluid. Smoking or chewing tobacco and heavy drinking, which narrows arteries and increases the risk of heart disease. In addition to using certain medications that contribute to hypertension.
- Other factors: People who are 65 years and older, people with African heritage, children with underlying conditions or poor lifestyle habits, and people who are overweight.
Blood pressure levels
The main method to determine whether your blood pressure is high, elevated, or normal is through measuring your blood pressure levels. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most health care professionals use these guidelines to diagnose it:
👉 A single high reading does not indicate high blood pressure; a health care provider can help you determine whether your pressure levels are a sign of this disease or not.
Accompanying symptoms
While the disease itself does not cause any symptoms, when your blood pressure is higher than 130/80 mmHg you might experience some, including:
- Headache
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
Understanding a Hypertensive Emergency
While this chronic disease is mostly silent, it quietly deteriorates blood vessels and forces organs to work harder. This can cause what is known as a hypertensive emergency, a life-threatening event that occurs when organ damage is taking place, which requires immediate medical attention. When this emergency is happening, it is possible that blood pressure readings reach above 180/120 mmHg, an event that could be accompanied by:
- Chest pain
- Nosebleeds
- Shortness of breath
- Severe headache
- Heart palpitations
- Blurry or double vision
- Urinating less than usual
FAQ
What is considered high blood pressure?
Blood pressure is considered high when readings are constantly over 130/80 mmHg. This could be accompanied by other symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and severe headache.
Can lack of sleep raise blood pressure?
Yes, it is possible that lack of sleep causes your blood pressure to rise. Sleeping less than 6 hours regularly can cause your blood vessels to constrict and organs to work harder, increasing the risk of raising your blood pressure.
How accurate are home blood pressure monitors?
At-home blood pressure monitors are considered to be pretty accurate, particularly those that are FDA-cleared.
Keep Your High Blood Pressure in Check in Lamesa, Texas
While high blood pressure can be considered a silent chronic condition, it can easily be detected and managed with the right healthcare professionals. If you’re at risk of developing this disease or suspect that you have it, don’t wait until a hypertensive emergency occurs, come to South Plains Rural Health Services to get your blood pressure checked. Here you can find caring and competent healthcare providers to guide you through living with this chronic condition in Lamesa, Texas.