Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects nearly 50% of American adults over 20 today. Untreated hypertension can cause serious heart problems and even death, so it’s important to work with top-rated hypertension specialists at ARK Cardiovascular & Arrhythmia Center to take charge of your health. There are offices in Dearborn, Detroit, and Trenton, Michigan, and a diagnostic and imaging center in Trenton, so book your appointment online or by phone today.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, occurs when your blood pulses against your blood vessel walls too forcefully. If you have hypertension continually for a long time, it can lead to serious health complications, including heart attack, stroke, and death.
However, ARK Cardiovascular & Arrhythmia Center has excellent news for everyone with hypertension: Your condition is very treatable, and the expert cardiology team can help you reach a healthy blood pressure level.
The American Heart Association recognizes the following blood pressure categories.
Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg. The top number, systolic, is the force of blood against blood vessel walls when your heart beats. The bottom number, diastolic, is the force of blood against blood vessel walls between heartbeats.
Elevated blood pressure is 120-129 mmHg systolic and less than 80 mmHg diastolic. Although it’s not officially hypertension, elevated blood pressure bears watching and requires regular visits to ARK Cardiovascular & Arrhythmia Center to prevent hypertension from developing.
Stage 1 hypertension is blood pressure of 130-139 mmHg systolic or 80-89 mmHg diastolic.
Stage 2 hypertension is blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher.
Another stage of high blood pressure, hypertensive crisis, occurs when your blood pressure suddenly spikes to 180/120 mmHg or higher. A hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency, particularly if you’re having other issues like chest pain, breathing difficulties, back pain, or weakness as well.
Some of the main risk factors for hypertension are:
Fortunately, most hypertension risk factors are controllable. So, if you develop elevated blood pressure, the ARK Cardiovascular & Arrhythmia Center team can help you make changes to prevent hypertension.
Hypertension treatment involves making changes like losing extra weight, reducing the sodium in your diet, and exercising regularly. You may need medication to lower your blood pressure. The ARK Cardiovascular & Arrhythmia Center team can prescribe both health changes and medications that support your return to a healthy blood pressure level.
For help with hypertension, call ARK Cardiovascular & Arrhythmia Center, or book your appointment online now.