How Can I Know If I Have High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a dangerous condition that affects every aspect of your health. It's highly prevalent, affecting about 1.28 billion people worldwide.

What's even scarier is that many people with high blood pressure don't know it. Untreated hypertension can lead to severe health conditions like a stroke or heart attack.

The way to learn for sure that you have high blood pressure is through regular screenings. At the Vein, Heart, and Vascular Institute, we check your blood pressure at every appointment to determine your risk of hypertension.

Dr. Hesham Fakhri and Dr. Octavio Cosme are our two expert cardiologists who diagnose high blood pressure quickly to prevent further health problems. Our team offers various treatment options, including medications and lifestyle changes.

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a condition that happens when the pressure of your blood pumping against the arteries is higher than usual. Your blood pressure consists of a systolic number and a diastolic number.

The systolic number is the blood reading in the arteries when the heart contracts or beats. A normal systolic pressure is under 120 millimeters of mercury. Stage 1 hypertension consists of a systolic pressure of at least 130, while a pressure of 140 or more indicates Stage 2.

The diastolic number measures your blood pressure during the heart's relaxation between beats. Normal diastolic pressure is 80 or less, while Stage 1 hypertension is 80 or higher. A diastolic pressure of 90 or more indicates Stage 2 high blood pressure.

High blood pressure is considered a silent disease because many people don't have any symptoms. Unless you take your blood pressure regularly at home, you may only get readings at your routine doctor's appointments or in the emergency room after an injury.

Signs and symptoms of high blood pressure

Unfortunately, because many people don't have symptoms related to the condition, it may go untreated for sometimes years at a time. 

But there’s a condition called a hypertensive crisis, during which blood pressure rises to more than 180 systolic over 120 diastolic. This condition is a true medical emergency, as it increases your risk for serious health issues like a stroke.

Symptoms you may experience during a hypertensive crisis, including a sudden, severe headache and:

• Nosebleeds
• Dizziness
• Chest pain
• Blurred vision
• Trouble breathing
• Ringing in the ears
• Confusion
• Irregular heart rhythm

If you experience any of these symptoms and suspect a hypertensive crisis, seek help immediately. You're in extreme danger of significant health issues, including a heart attack.

How do you diagnose high blood pressure?

Medical professionals often diagnose hypertension during yearly medical exams. At your yearly physical, checking your vital signs is one of the most important measures of your overall health that your medical team takes.

Sometimes, the anxiety of seeing a doctor can temporarily raise your blood pressure, so the medical team may check it again later in the appointment.

If you have hypertension, you need a team that specializes in cardiovascular problems, like our team at Vein, Heart and Vascular Institute. We may have you monitor your blood pressure at home to determine the next steps in treatment.

Elevated blood pressure (Stage 1) is treatable through lifestyle changes. We suggest eating healthy, reducing salt, and exercising regularly. Sometimes, this is enough to lower your blood pressure without further treatment.

For blood pressure that doesn't drop despite lifestyle changes, we recommend medications to lower it. Medications are often the first line of treatment after lifestyle changes and are highly effective.

If other treatments aren't working or you need further intervention with your blood pressure, we also offer a procedure called renal denervation. It's a minimally invasive option that helps reduce blood pressure and your risk of severe health complications.

Call us at the Vein, Heart, and Vascular Institute today to schedule an appointment, or contact us online to request a consultation. We're in Tampa, Sun City Center, and Wesley Chapel, Florida.