The Dangers of High Blood Pressure

About 120 million people in the United States have high blood pressure. It’s called “the silent killer” because people don’t usually experience symptoms until the late stages. 

Yet, despite this symptomless nature of the disease, the dangers of high blood pressure are real. At Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C., we take high blood pressure seriously, and you should too. 

It's easier to prevent high blood pressure when you are proactive. In this blog, we’ll examine the dangers of high blood pressure so you can know the risks. 

Understanding your blood pressure

Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood against the walls of blood vessels. It’s at its highest in arteries as your heart pumps blood out to the body and lowest as the heart fills before the next beat. 

The two numbers of your blood pressure reading represent these stages. Systolic pressure is the first, higher number when your heart beats, and the diastolic reading is the lower number, measured between beats. 

The only way to know your blood pressure is through regular monitoring. The good news is if your blood pressure is high, it can be controlled through lifestyle alterations and medication. 

Prolonged high blood pressure increases your risk of developing a range of health conditions and chronic diseases. 

Managing your blood pressure

When your blood pressure rises, effective management usually includes a blend of lifestyle changes and medical treatment. 

You’ll be actively involved in blood pressure management when you take steps such as: 

• Dietary choices that center around heart-healthy options like whole grains, low-fat dairy, fruits, and vegetables
• Reducing sodium intake while increasing potassium-rich foods
• Choosing healthy fats like olive oil over trans and saturated fats
• Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol intake
• Losing weight, if necessary, since even small losses can improve blood pressure
• Increase physical activity, since modest additions can also bring blood pressure down
• Reducing or managing stress, through meditation, yoga, massage, or other means
• Maintain a consistent and healthy sleep cycle

Monitoring blood pressure with an at-home unit may help you get a better understanding of how your blood pressure fluctuates and what actions produce the greatest benefits. 

Medication can also play an important role in blood pressure management. Be sure to understand how to take blood pressure prescriptions and don’t discontinue  their use without a doctor’s approval. Combining medications with lifestyle changes usually delivers the best results. 

Complications connected with high blood pressure

High blood pressure threatens your health and affects your quality of life by creating the potential for coexisting conditions. When high blood pressure reaches advanced stages, it becomes life-threatening. 

Some dangers of living with high blood pressure include: 

• Aneurysms: bulging weak spots in blood vessel walls that become a medical emergency when they rupture
• Angina (chest pain): resulting from reduced blood flow through the heart
• Arrhythmia: irregular heartbeats that can, in some cases, cause death
• Atherosclerosis: plaque buildup in the arteries
• Dementia: memory loss and other issues related to the brain

• Heart attack: a sudden loss of blood flow to the heart
• Heart failure: weakening of the heart due to the extra strain 
• Kidney disease or failure

• Peripheral artery disease
• Pregnancy complications: like preeclampsia and eclampsia
• Sexual dysfunction: This can happen in people of any gender
• Stroke: Loss of blood flow to the brain 
• Vision loss

High blood pressure is also connected with other health issues, including metabolic syndrome, which makes conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke more likely. 

Contact Princeton Sports and Family Medicine, P.C., in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, for blood pressure monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment. 

Reach us by phone or online to book your appointment now.