What is hypertension?
Blood pumps through the blood vessels called arteries every time your heart beats. Your blood pressure is a measure of how hard the blood pushes against the wall of your arteries. Nearly half of all US adults have high blood pressure according to American Heart Association. High blood pressure increases risk of heart disease and stroke in men and women of all ages regardless of social, cultural or economical background.
There are two type of hypertension:
- Primary HTN which develops gradually without a specific defined cause. Most adults with sedentary lifestyle will have primary hypertension.
- Secondary HTN which is caused by an underlying condition like hormonal imbalances which can be easily detected via blood tests.
It is a “silent killer” causing damage to organs to years with no signs or symptoms causing heart disesase, stroke, kidney disease and dementia.
United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening all adults aged 18 years or older with office blood pressure measurement.
Fortunately, high blood pressure is easy to detect with vast options to control including diet, exercise, weight loss and pharmaceutical management. Reach out to us today at 346-500-5342 to schedule an appointment for age appropriate screening as per USPSTF guidelines.
