Could You Have Hypertension and Don't Know It? Millions of People Do
Hypertension affects over 108 million Americans. While hypertension is treatable, less than 25% of those with hypertension have it under control. These stats highlight a grim reality: millions of people have hypertension and don’t even realize it.
Here at Dupont Private Health, Dr. Jean Ann Beaton and the healthcare team know just how silent hypertension can be and that’s one reason we take vital signs, including blood pressure at every visit.
Below, Dr. Beaton dives deeper into this topic, explaining what hypertension is, why it’s so silent, and what you can do about it.
Understanding your blood pressure levels
Your blood pressure is a vital sign that measures the pressure (force) of the blood flowing in your arteries. It contains two numbers:
Your systolic blood pressure (the top number) measures the pressure in your arteries during your heartbeat
Your diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) measures the pressure between heartbeats
Your blood pressure reading provides valuable information about the health of your heart.
Normal blood pressure: 120/80 and below mmHg
Elevated blood pressure: 120-129/80 and below mmHg
Stage 1 hypertension: 130-139/80-89 mmHg
Stage 2 hypertension: 140+/ 90+ mmHg
Even though hypertension can be easily and painlessly detected when we record your vitals, you might not feel any different. That’s why routine blood pressure readings are so important. As soon as elevated blood pressure is detected, you can take action to regulate your levels and avoid the serious complications of untreated hypertension.
Why hypertension is so silent
Unlike other chronic health conditions, high blood pressure can develop without causing symptoms. Diabetes can cause excessive thirst, increased urination, and blurry vision. Asthma causes disruptive coughing and difficulty breathing. But hypertension? You can have high blood pressure for months or years and not even realize it.
Left untreated, chronic high pressure in your blood vessels leads to damage. At first, the damage doesn’t cause any obvious symptoms, and it doesn’t hurt. However, when your vessels sustain the prolonged effects of elevated pressure, it increases risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and aneurysm. Because hypertension causes these serious health complications, the American Heart Association dubs it “The Silent Killer.”
Note: hypertension can cause some symptoms, but only when you reach a hypertensive crisis. This is a severe increase in your blood pressure levels (180+ / 120+ mm Hg or higher), and at this point, you may experience chest pain, severe headache, nausea, anxiety, shortness of breath, and confusion.
Treating hypertension…even if you feel fine
We know reading about the dangers of untreated blood pressure (and the silent nature of it) can be overwhelming, but thankfully, a quick blood pressure reading can track your vitals. If you have three above-normal readings, Dr. Beaton helps you regulate your blood pressure with prescription medicine and lifestyle modifications. Routine monitoring ensures that your numbers are trending in the right direction.
Not only do lifestyle modifications 一 such as exercising, dietary changes, and managing stress 一 go a long way in lowering your blood pressure, but these habits can also support other aspects of your mental and physical health.
Don’t ignore high blood pressure. To schedule an appointment or to learn more about hypertension management, call our Dupont Circle office in Washington, DC, at 202-978-6071 or request an appointment online.
