Hypertension is the medical term used to describe high blood pressure. The best way to understand high blood pressure is to think about the way your heart moves blood throughout your body.
Each time your heart muscle pumps, it forces blood into your arteries. This places pressure on artery walls. When your arteries become narrowed, the blood cannot flow normally, which increases pressure on arterial walls.
Blood pressure is measured both during each heartbeat (systolic) and in the pause between heartbeats (diastolic). Your systolic pressure is the first number and diastolic is the second number.
Readings below 120/80 are considered normal, and the threshold for high blood pressure is 130/80. Anything above that level should prompt a visit to Dr. Raja.
High blood pressure can cause wide-ranging problems throughout your body. Some of the health issues linked to hypertension include:
These are just some of the health problems that can occur if you have hypertension. Finding a way to reduce your blood pressure is key to preventing or improving these conditions.
There are many things you can do to reduce your blood pressure, and working with a skilled practitioner like Dr. Raja is a great place to start.
Medications can help reduce blood pressure and are a good option for some people who have dangerously high readings. Some drugs help your body effectively remove water and sodium, and others work to prevent arterial narrowing. Muscle relaxers can improve blood flow, and some drugs reduce or increase your heart rate.
It often takes a process of trial and error to find the right blend of blood pressure medication. Dr. Raja works closely with you to craft a customized drug therapy plan that creates measurable results.
Lifestyle modifications can do wonders to bring your blood pressure readings down to healthy levels. Dr. Raja can help you learn how to improve your diet and get the right amount of exercise. He offers medically supervised weight loss that can bring you closer to a healthy weight.
Finding ways to reduce stress and improve sleep quality can also help control blood pressure. Making these changes can not only help with hypertension but also support enhanced overall health and wellness.
To learn more about your blood pressure and explore ways to reduce your readings, book an appointment with Dr. Raja online or over the phone today.