Hypertension is high blood pressure.  More than a third of Americans have hypertension.  Elevated blood pressure increases your risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.  The higher the blood pressure rises above normal, the greater the health risk. Early treatment and control can prevent future health problems.

The target for blood pressure control is a resting blood pressure less than 140/90 unless patients also have diabetes or chronic kidney disease in which case the target is less than 130/80.  You can’t monitor your blood pressure by how you feel.  Hypertension itself rarely causes symptoms. Everyone should get their blood pressure measured at least every two years.  If you have hypertension, monitor your blood pressure regularly.  Make sure that you record your blood pressures and that you bring the written record to each physician office visit.  Going to the doctor for your regularly scheduled check-ups is important to make sure your blood pressure is within the recommended range.

Hypertension remains a leading cause of heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.  However, hypertension is entirely treatable.  Community Care Physicians Pharmacist can help you if you have any questions on how to use your home blood pressure cuff. For this, and more information on hypertension and steps you can take to control your blood pressure, here are some additional resources at the links provided.

Useful Links

American Heart Association/HighBloodPressure

The American Heart Association has resources to help you manage your blood pressure including a High Blood Pressure Risk Calculator, news on the prevention and treatment of high blood pressure, tips on symptoms, diagnosis, and diagnosis of monitoring high blood pressure, as well as other tools and resources.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/Hypertension

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has all the information you need on hypertension including signs, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and how to control your blood pressure.

Blood-Pressure-Recommendations.pdf

Elevated blood pressure increases your risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.  The higher the blood pressure rises above normal, the greater the health risk. Early treatment and control can prevent future health problems.

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

Hypertension is high blood pressure. More than a third of Americans have hypertension and the only way to know if you’ve got it — is to measure it.