Could I Have High Blood Pressure and Not Know It?

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a potentially dangerous health condition that causes your blood to push against your artery walls with too much force, damaging them as a result. 

If hypertension is left untreated, it can put you at risk for severe health complications such as a heart attack or stroke. 

Part of the reason high blood pressure is so dangerous is that it doesn’t present with symptoms until it becomes very severe and even life-threatening. Some experts suggest that nearly half of every adult with high blood pressure has no idea they have it. 

To ensure high blood pressure is caught early enough, you need to get annual wellness checks where your blood pressure is checked and monitored. 

May is recognized nationally as Hypertension Education Month. Because so many people don’t realize that you can be living with high blood pressure and have no idea, our wellness and preventative care team, led by Charles Stone, MD, at HealthStone Primary Care Partners in Hollywood, Florida, wants to review how to prevent and manage it in this month’s blog.

Possible causes of high blood pressure

Typically, high blood pressure is divided into two categories: primary hypertension and secondary hypertension. 

Primary hypertension doesn’t have a single known cause; however, many factors can increase your risk for developing it. Those include eating an unhealthy diet, consuming high amounts of sodium, not getting enough physical activity, and having a close relative with high blood pressure. 

Secondary hypertension develops from having other medical conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes, or kidney disease. Using tobacco products regularly can also lead to secondary hypertension. 

Preventing high blood pressure

Fortunately, there are a lot of things you can do to prevent high blood pressure. 

We recommend following a dietary plan that includes large amounts of nutrient-dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and limited amounts of sodium, saturated fats, and alcoholic beverages. 

You should also strive to exercise and move your body for about 30 minutes each day, and quit smoking and using tobacco products. 

Managing high blood pressure

High blood pressure can be found and diagnosed during routine wellness visits. However, if you haven’t seen our team in quite some time and you’ve noticed signs of high blood pressure, such as dizziness or shortness of breath, don’t delay in seeking expert treatment. The sooner high blood pressure is discovered, the better your prognosis. 

If we do catch high blood pressure early, you should be able to manage it with some lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise. However, if it’s severe and you’re at serious risk for dangerous health complications, medication is available to manage it effectively. 

If you’re overdue for a wellness visit or suspect you may have high blood pressure, don’t wait to schedule an appointment with our HealthStone Primary Care Partners team. You can do that by calling our office or booking online today.