Hypertension is commonly referred to as high blood pressure. It’s also known by a more sinister name: the silent killer. This relatively common, potentially deadly condition usually doesn’t alert you to its presence.
Since you have no symptoms, you can live for years or decades with hypertension. And then — without warning — it suddenly fells you. So, is hypertension and its potential for a fatal cardiac event something you should worry about?
Our expert cardiologist, Dr. Ola Akinboboye, encourages you to take your heart health seriously, and that includes actively not worrying. Instead of stressing your heart and body with worry, find out for sure if you have hypertension at our Laurelton Heart Specialists office in Rosedale, Queens, New York City.
Why should you determine if you have hypertension or not? Following are the top reasons.
A visit to a doctor quickly gives you the information you need about how healthy your blood pressure is. In fact, every time you visit any doctor, they take your blood pressure.
With a simple inflatable cuff, we measure the amount of pressure in your arteries during a heartbeat (systolic pressure) and between heartbeats (diastolic pressure). The value of your systolic pressure over the value of your diastolic pressure equals your total blood pressure.
For instance, if your blood pressure is 119/70 mm Hg, your systolic pressure is 119 and your diastolic pressure is 70. Here’s what the numbers mean:
If your measurements are higher than 180/120, you’re in hypertensive crisis, which is a medical emergency. You must get to a hospital ASAP.
Although you should avoid worry and stress to keep your heart healthy, if you do have hypertension, you should stay alert to your blood pressure numbers. That might mean purchasing your own blood pressure monitor so you can test your pressure periodically.
If your numbers go up, contact us immediately. If you’re in hypertensive crisis, get to the emergency room right away by calling 911.
Whether you have hypertension or not, it’s better to take positive actions to keep your heart healthy than it is to worry about your heart health. See your doctor regularly and make the changes you need to keep your cardiovascular system in the best shape possible.
If you want to keep your heart healthy and your blood pressure as normal as possible, give up cigarettes, alcohol, and recreational drugs. All of these substances can raise your heart rate and degrade the health of your arteries. If you need help breaking an addiction, let us know so we can refer you to a cessation program.
Carrying around too many extra pounds puts unneeded stress on your heart and arteries. When you adopt healthier habits, such as a better diet and more exercise, you should start to lose weight naturally. If you don’t, or if it’s not enough, let us know and we can refer you to a medical weight-loss program.
While you’re ditching cigarettes and alcohol, throw out processed foods and excess sugar, too. Instead, focus on whole foods that provide your heart and arteries with the nutrients they need to stay healthy. Mediterranean and Asian cultures tend to have heart-healthy diets that emphasize vegetables and quality protein.
Don’t sit around worrying: Get on your feet and take a walk. Not only does that keep your heart healthier, it boosts your mood and alleviates stress, too. Sitting frequently is now considered to be as bad for your health as smoking is. Alternate between sitting and using a standing desk. Take 5-10 minute stretches and movement breaks every 30-60 minutes.
The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes per week of high-intensity exercise. In addition to walking, running, or dancing to improve your cardiovascular health, add in resistance training, too. Aim for at least two sessions per week of weight lifting or another resistance exercise.
Find out how healthy your blood pressure is and what to do about it by reaching out to our team for a heart health consultation. Call us today at 718-208-4816 or use our online outreach form.
