Do You Have High Blood Pressure?
What is High Blood Pressure?
Although the term sounds self-explanatory, there is a lot to consider when determining how and why your blood pressure is above normal. High blood pressure can cause or be symptomatic of a variety of issues inside the body. Blood pressure is the measure of how much force is being applied to the inside of your veins and arteries.
Everyone, healthy or otherwise, should get their blood pressure checked regularly. If it is too high or too low, it could be a warning sign of an undiscovered illness or could potentially cause one to develop. A common warning sign of high blood pressure is frequent headaches or migraines, as well as shortness of breath.
Blood pressure is measured by two numbers, Systolic and Diastolic pressure. The first of which (top) measures the force after your heart contracts and the second (bottom) is a measure of when the heart relaxes between beats. Your blood pressure can fall into one of three ranges if it measures high:
Low risk: 120/80
Medium risk: 121-139/ 80-89
High risk: 140+/90
What Causes High Blood Pressure?
Primary Hypertension
There is no identifiable cause of this type of hypertension, it simply is a result of aging and gradually develops over time. Factors such as age, race, family genetics, weight, and diet can all be potentially contributing factors.
It’s important to consult a professional because there are people who are naturally at an increased risk of developing high blood pressure and the sooner you start managing it, you can avoid damaging your health.
Secondary Hypertension
This type occurs when there is a sudden increase in blood pressure and there is an underlying cause such as:
- Thyroid disorders
- Adrenal gland tumors
- Kidney disorders
- Birth defects
- Side effects of medications
Managing Your Blood Pressure
It is important to consult a professional to have your blood pressure accurately measured and assessed. Allowing high blood pressure to go unchecked can lead to a variety of serious conditions such as heart attack or stroke, brain aneurysm, heart failure and even memory loss.
If you happen to fall into the medium-high risk range, you can begin to explore options to fix it and restore your internal health. Although some factors such as genetics and family history are beyond your control, there are many factors that can be addressed by making lifestyle changes and natural therapy.
Having a medical professional examine your diet and health habits can shed light on ways to fix your blood pressure naturally, without medication. It could be as simple as:
- Reducing sodium consumption
- Regular exercise
- Reducing stress
- Limiting alcohol consumption
The health professionals at Progressive Medical Center are able to perform a complete personal diagnosis using over 1000 biomarkers to build a profile of your body.
Referred to as The Progressive Method, it is a comprehensive assessment that takes a deep dive into how your body functions, and things like energy, stress, and pain tolerance. This helps pinpoint what could be the cause of your high blood pressure and what can be done to fix it in a natural way.
Looking to book an appointment? This link will take you there.