You are feeling good, things at home and work couldn’t be better. The weekend is coming and you can’t wait to relax. You just have to see your doctor for a regular checkup tomorrow and then you will be off to enjoy your plans for the weekend. But, at the doctor’s visit you are informed that your blood pressure is high. “What! But I feel so good, I’ve got energy, I’m able to multitask at work and home”, you cry out. You can’t believe it.
Why is high blood pressure “silent”?
The above scenario is very common for many individuals with high blood pressure. High blood pressure may be found incidentally during a routine doctor’s visit or while checking your blood pressure at a grocery store. Few people will experience blood pressure symptoms like headaches, vision changes or nausea unless their blood pressure is extremely high. Our bodies are able to recognize and compensate for most changes. For example, the body causes arteries to expand or contract to accommodate for and lower the rising blood pressure. This explains why high blood pressure is “silent” – we can’t feel it.
Why is high blood pressure a “killer”?
First, normal blood pressure should be around 120/80. It is normal that it will fluctuate based on your activity, emotion, pain, time of day, age, etc. Second, our bodies allow for this blood pressure change by expanding and contracting arteries and veins, changing blood volume, heart rate, electrolytes levels, etc. Third, factors such as genetics, smoking, artery disease, cholesterol, heart, liver and kidney problems and more, may increase your chances of developing high blood pressure. Our bodies try to “fix” or balance the high blood pressure yet it becomes harder and harder to do so over time. Fourth, think of plumbing (I know this may not come naturally to us): High pressure in the pipes puts pressure at the ends of the pipes or arteries where they lead to organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, eyes, etc. The high pressure damages these organs over time. In addition, if you have weak, non-elastic arteries they may burst under this high pressure leading to an aneurysm (in the brain, aorta, etc). This explains why high blood pressure is a “killer”. (video)
Imagine this: Your blood pressure at rest is 155/96. When you are walking up stairs, become angry, or you are in pain, it can climb to 202/108. This is dangerous to your health and can kill you. What’s worse is that you may not know this is going on.
PREVENTION:
Things you CAN change :
1. Get a regular check up (depending on your age group)
2. Watch for new or worsening symptoms such as headaches or vision changes and let your doctor know
3. Stop smoking – smoking hardens the arteries not allowing them to be elastic and expand/contract when needed
4. Watch your sodium intake – sodium may hold more fluid in the body increasing blood pressure
5. Control your stress level
6. Get specific labwork/tests done: cholesterol, liver, and kidney panel, urinalysis with microalbumin microalbumin , complete blood panel, thyroid level. Consider an electrocardiogram or heart ultrasound ultrasound , eye exam, and other tests like a kidney ultrasound, chest xray, Doppler ultrasound to check for blood flow.
7. Maintain a balanced meal plan and regular exercise
8. Watch your alcohol level
9. Review your current prescription and over the counter medications as their side effect could cause high blood pressure (example: oral contraceptives, anti depressants or certain over the counter decongestants)
10. Watch your weight
11. Control your diabetes
12. If you get diagnosed as having high blood pressure, buy a blood pressure monitor to familiarize yourself with its highs and lows. Know that there are many different types of medications to control blood pressure and it will take a while for you to find out which ones work best for you with minimal side effects. * It is normal to end up taking 2-3 different blood pressure medications. Don’t be alarmed. The reason is that there is more than one body mechanism that regulates blood pressure. Different medications control these specific body mechanisms.
Things you can NOT change:
1. Genetics –find out your family history as early as you can so you may change your habits
2. Age
3. Diseases – Cushing’s syndrome , pheochromocytoma , coarctation of the aorta , thyroid/parathyroid disease
4. Male sex
5. Race - Blacks
Be proactive . What is more important: that slice of pizza or to see your son get married?