If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, you are likely to be at higher risk for the leading causes of death in the United States. Namely: stroke and heart disease. High blood pressure is a more complex situation than many people realize, but it is preventable and treatable – the trick is to monitor it and take care of it as soon as you see a problem. You get your blood pressure checked regularly to know whether or not there is a problem.
High Blood Pressure is Normally Symptomless
It might seem counterintuitive – we know what it feels to have our heart racing after exercise, so we assume that must be what high blood pressure feels like. The problem is, most people who have high blood pressure don’t notice any symptoms, meaning they don’t check their blood pressure to find out that the problem is already there.
High Blood Pressure Doesn’t Discriminate by Age
Almost a quarter of people of age 20 to 44 have high blood pressure, meaning it isn’t just for people of a certain age. There are many more factors that can contribute to high blood pressure, meaning you can indeed be young and at risk for stroke (in fact, strokes are a rising health concern for younger people). There are many potential contributing factors that are being studied, but the bottom line is to get your blood pressure checked at your pharmacy or a doctor’s office or use a home blood pressure monitor if you have one.
High Blood Pressure Could be Linked to Dementia
Studies are suggesting that having uncontrolled high blood pressure between the ages of 44 to 66 means that a person can be at a higher risk for dementia as they get older. Managing your high blood pressure now can be key to help lower this risk. This could mean a change in diet or taking medication for high blood pressure, lifestyle changes, or other options your doctor can discuss with you.
You May Have High Blood Pressure without Knowing It
It is estimated that 1/3 of people with high blood pressure don’t know that they have it, meaning they are also not being treated for it, which we know can cause long-lasting problems. Always make sure your doctor takes your blood pressure and discuss with them options to lower it if it is high. Obviously, if you feel any other cardiac-related symptoms, you should also discuss them with your doctor and get on a treatment plan for that as well, but always keep in mind that high blood pressure may not have symptoms.
Summary
The main key with any potential health issue is to monitor it and treat it as soon as possible. You should speak to a doctor if you have high blood pressure so that they can help work out an appropriate regimen to lower your blood pressure. High blood pressure affects almost half of the adults in the United States, so there’s no reason to not keep an eye on yours.