Hypertension is unusually high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a common problem for many people today. A person is said to have pre-hypertension when they have blood pressure readings of between 120-139/80-89 mm/Hg. Once blood pressure moves over 140/90 mmHg, the patient is considered to be in hypertension.
High blood pressure must be present for a person to be diagnosed with hypertension, but not every person with a high blood pressure reading actually has hypertension. The high blood pressure readings are technically not classified as hypertension until the patient has had these readings for a protracted period. People who experience a random blood pressure spike that soon settles back down to normal numbers are not typically diagnosed with hypertension. While high blood pressure and hypertension are technically not exactly the same, the terms tend to be used interchangeably by most people today.
While the cause of hypertension is not established at this time, there are several risk factors that may contribute significantly. The risk of hypertension rises with age, obesity or excess weight, lack of exercise, and a generally unhealthy lifestyle. Hypertension can often be avoided if the patient is proactive about it when they receive their first high blood pressure readings at the doctor's office.
Simply making some lifestyle changes can help patients avoid hypertension, and it may just save their life. Dietary changes can be an integral part of this process. Focusing more on non-processed foods that have little saturated fat can be an excellent start. Hypertension can be avoided in other ways as well, including the introduction of a regular exercise program, cessation of smoking, and cutting back (or eliminating) alcohol.
At Internal Medicine & Family Practice, we accept most major medical insurance plans. Here is a short list of just some of the most popular plans we accept. Please contact our office if you do not see your insurance provider listed.