Blood pressure is an important measure to determine if you are at risk for a serious medical condition or a chronic disease. To ensure you are up-to-date on your health risks it is important to get routine blood pressure screenings.
A chronic disease is any long-term medical condition that decreases your overall health. Diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and similar conditions are common examples of chronic diseases. Patients that have a higher blood pressure are at an increased risk for multiple chronic diseases.
Additionally, blood pressure guidelines have changed in recent years. New guidelines could indicate whether or not you have an increased risk of hypertension or any of the diseases mentioned above. So what should patients understand about their blood pressure?
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a disease itself
Once your blood pressure reaches above a certain threshold it is considering as a chronic disease, otherwise known as hypertension. According to new guidelines from clinical experts, hypertension is when a patient’s blood pressure is above 120/80 mm Hg. The recent change may result in more patients having risks of hypertension than previously known.
Hypertension by itself can lead to serious health complications including loss of energy, fatigue, weight gain, and other chronic conditions. Below, we’ll explain some of the long-term health risks of hypertension as well:
Hypertension can lead to serious health risks
When left untreated, hypertension can contribute to some of the most impactful and common chronic diseases we see today.
High blood pressure can lead to obesity, heart disease, heart attack, diabetes, and overall worsened health. In extreme cases, high blood pressure can cause stroke and even brain damage if not properly treated. Hypertension is both inherited genetically and also developed from poor diet and low amounts of exercise. If you believe you’re at risk for hypertension, please consider getting a screening ASAP.
Hypertension is usually treatable with lifestyle changes, medication, and other medical interventions. A primary care provider, urgent care provider, or a similar specialist can help get you started on a treatment plan.
Blood pressure screenings are easy, affordable, and cheap for most patients
The good news for patients is that blood pressure screenings are relatively easy to get and affordable. Simply visit a nearby urgent care center or walk-in clinic to get started! Most urgent care centers offer screenings if your PCP is unable to see you immediately.
