The American Heart Association dubs high blood pressure (hypertension) the “silent killer” because it usually has no noticeable symptoms but puts you at risk for heart disease and strokes — two leading causes of death in America.
Despite its “silence,” it affects nearly half of all adults in the United States. Alarmingly, many people don’t even know they have it. Could you be one of them?
Below, Dr. Henock Saint-Jacques and our expert team explain what you need to know about high blood pressure, why it’s dangerous, how to know if you have it, and how we can help you manage the condition here at Harlem Cardiology.
Hypertension occurs when the force (pressure) of blood against the walls of your blood vessels is chronically high δΈ€ defined as systolic blood pressure readings on at least two days being ≥140 mmHg and/or the diastolic blood pressure readings on both days being ≥90 mmHg.
When your blood pressure is consistently too high, it can put extra strain on your heart and blood vessels. All of the added strain can contribute to serious health problems like heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage.
Over time, untreated hypertension can silently cause damage to your body without any clear warning signs. In other words, you don’t “feel” your blood pressure. It doesn’t hurt, and you can’t tell you have it unless you have a high blood pressure reading.
During your appointment, Dr. Saint-Jacque takes your family and personal health history to get a sense of your specific risk factors. The reality is that while anyone can develop high blood pressure, certain factors increase your risk.
This includes being over 40, having a family history of hypertension, being overweight or obese, leading a sedentary lifestyle, already having elevated blood pressure levels, and consuming a high-sodium diet.
Lifestyle and environmental factors like stress, alcohol, and smoking can also elevate your risk.
Pregnant women also have elevated risks of high blood pressure, which is why your blood pressure is checked during every prenatal appointment and even before and after delivery.
Most people with high blood pressure experience no symptoms until it reaches dangerously high levels. By the time symptoms like headaches, shortness of breath, or nosebleeds appear, damage may already have been done. This is why it’s so important to have routine blood pressure screenings.
The sooner you detect high blood pressure, the sooner you can get started with the right treatment.
If your blood pressure reaches these critical levels, it’s known as hyptertensive crisis, which is a medical emergency. If you suspect that you or a loved one are in a hypertensive crisis, call 9-1-1.
The best way to know if you have high blood pressure is through regular monitoring. You can get your blood pressure checked during routine doctor visits (both here with Dr. Saint-Jacques and with your primary care provider too) or even at home with a blood pressure monitor.
Thinking about those self-serve kiosks? Gyms and pharmacies may have standalone self-serve blood pressure readings. While these alone aren’t enough to diagnose or manage your blood pressure, if you have a concern reading at a self-serve kiosk, print your results (or take a picture to remember your numbers), and schedule an appointment here in our East Harlem, New York, office.
If you’re diagnosed with high blood pressure (or even elevated blood pressure levels), lifestyle changes like improving your diet (including trying the DASH diet), exercising, and reducing stress can help manage it.
In some cases, Dr. Saint-Jacque may prescribe medication to safely lower your blood pressure levels. Even with medication, lifestyle changes are still important to help support your cardiovascular health.
If you’re concerned about your blood pressure, call our office at 646-381-2181. You can also click here to book an appointment with Dr. Saint-Jacques and review your blood pressure management options.
