What is high blood pressure?
As blood circulates through your body, it presses against the inside of your blood vessels. This force is your blood pressure.
Blood pressure is measured with two numbers: systolic and diastolic. Your systolic pressure is the force exerted when your heart beats, and your diastolic pressure is the force while your heart rests between beats.
High blood pressure doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms in its early stages. As your condition progresses, you could develop headaches, blurry vision, chest pain, and nosebleeds. Many people don’t know they have high blood pressure until they have a heart attack or stroke.
What causes high blood pressure?
While your family medical history and genes influence your risk of high blood pressure, your lifestyle can increase your risk of this disease. Common risk factors for hypertension include:
- Being overweight or obese
- Smoking
- Eating too much salt
- Not exercising enough
- Consuming too much alcohol
You can also develop high blood pressure due to other health issues such as diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid disease, and obstructive sleep apnea.
When should I talk to a doctor about high blood pressure?
Dr. Liederbach checks your blood pressure at your annual physical and keeps a record of your measurements. If you have a family history of the condition or other risk factors, he talks to you about making lifestyle adjustments to lower your risk before your blood pressure increases.
As hypertension is usually symptomless, it’s critical to monitor your blood pressure annually and take prompt action if your measures trend upward.
How is high blood pressure treated?
Dr. Liederbach has extensive experience in high blood pressure management. He takes a patient-focused approach to care and works with you to improve your nutrition and other lifestyle factors to lower your blood pressure naturally.
If necessary, Dr. Liederbach prescribes medication to lower your blood pressure. You might benefit from diuretics, beta-blockers, or ACE inhibitors.
If you’re concerned about high blood pressure or are looking for expert, attentive primary care, call Wilmington Adult Medicine or make an appointment online today.
