More than 100 million Americans have high blood pressure, a dangerous condition that doesn’t make itself known with outward symptoms. At Pohala Clinic PC in Portland, Oregon, Julie Foster, FNP, MSN, and her team provide monitoring and support for patients with high blood pressure. Attaining a healthy blood pressure level greatly reduces your risk of having a stroke or developing heart disease and kidney failure. Call the office or book online to have your blood pressure checked today.
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, occurs when your blood pushes too forcefully against the walls of your arteries. Your blood pressure is represented by the systolic pressure – the higher number that indicates pressure when your heart beats – over the diastolic number, the lower number that represents the pressure when your heart rests between beats. What is considered high blood pressure?
A normal blood pressure reading is 119/79 or lower. If you have a reading of 140/90 or greater at three consecutive appointments, you’re diagnosed with high blood pressure. Prehypertension may be diagnosed if the top number is between 120 and 139 and the lower number is between 80 and 89. Prehypertension can easily develop into full hypertension if you don’t take action to reduce it.
Your risk of developing high blood pressure increases as you get older. Other risk factors include:
Tobacco use and excessive consumption of alcohol also raise your risk.
High blood pressure doesn’t have outward symptoms, but it slowly damages your internal organs. Without treatment, high blood pressure can lead to:
With regular visits to Pohala Clinic PC, our team can catch your high blood pressure early and treat it before it causes serious health complications.
Julie and the team at Pohala Clinic PC treat high blood pressure with lifestyle modifications and regular monitoring first. If these conservative strategies are inadequate or your blood pressure is especially high, you may qualify for standard medical treatment for your condition.
Lifestyle changes that include a healthier lower-sodium diet, reduced alcohol intake, weight loss, smoking cessation, and greater physical activity are usually effective in improving your blood pressure levels.
These lifestyle changes are particularly helpful if you have prehypertension, and they can prevent a full-blown development of the disease.
Stay on top of your blood pressure levels. Call Pohala Clinic PC or book an appointment online for a screening today.
