Hypertension: Recognition And Treatment

Richard Ho, M.D.

High blood pressure, also known as ‘hypertension’ is a potentially serious medical condition. However, it often has no symptoms and may go undetected for years! That is why it has been called "the silent killer”. Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for both heart disease and stroke.

What does one need to know about high blood pressure?

First of all, know these numbers: 120 and 80. What do these numbers mean? If your pressure is more than 120 over 80 on repeated testing, when taken at rest (which is defined as sitting quietly for at least 5 to 10 minutes), you may be at risk for getting high blood pressure. In this situation, you should be under the care of a doctor. The doctor can monitor your pressure over a period of time and recommend treatment that is appropriate. Therefore, the most important thing to do if you have high blood pressure is to have regular medical check-ups by your physician so that it can be properly treated and treated early.

How is high blood pressure treated?

Most people assume that once they have high blood pressure, they will have to take pills. Many fear that once they start medication, they will have to take it for the rest of their lives. It is true that in many cases the condition is severe enough to require medication. However, especially if it is found in an early stage, the problem can often be treated by modifying one’s lifestyle. Some of these measures include: increasing exercise, reducing weight to a level closer to what is ideal for one’s height/ body build, limiting alcohol intake, and reducing the amount of sodium (or salt) in the diet.

Reducing salt in the diet is a very important measure for most people. How does one know how much sodium is in food? For any food bought in the store, the sodium amount per serving can be seen on the package label. Therefore, read these labels! For fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables, there are no labels, but these will account for only a small portion of the daily amount, unless salt is added to them. Recommendations for maximum daily sodium intake will vary for individuals, based on a number of factors. A general rule of thumb is to only use products with less than 200 mg of sodium per serving.

How effective is treatment for high blood pressure?

With the many medications now available, high blood pressure can be safely and effectively treated. Numerous studies have essentially proven that proper treatment leads to better health and protects against strokes and heart disease. It may be necessary to try several medicines before the doctor and patient settle on one or more pills. But in nearly every case, blood pressure can be treated with success. Finally, in some cases the medicine can be withdrawn, especially if the patient is successful in making changes in his or her lifestyle.

Conclusion

High blood pressure must be controlled or else it may cause serious health problems. Unfortunately, of the many patients with high pressure, only about 2 out of 3 receive any treatment, and less than half are in good control. Because most people with high pressure do not feel any symptoms, they may walk around unaware of what damage it may do to their health. It is my recommendation that all adults above the age of 25 have their blood pressure checked yearly. If there are any other risk factors, such as diabetes, obesity, family history or smoking, it should be checked even earlier. The good news is that if the condition is properly treated, the health risks can be greatly reduced. If you haven’t had your blood pressure checked in the past year, make an appointment to see your physician now. If you have any reason to believe that you have high blood pressure, be sure to discuss your concerns with your primary care doctor.

Dr. Ho practices internal medicine at Bay Valley Medical Group’s Castro Valley office. To schedule an appointment with him, please call (510) 581-2559.