Why Does Blood Pressure Matter?

Most people have episodes of increased blood pressure, often by stress, quarrels, time pressures or feeling overwhelmed. While occasional high blood pressure is common, if it becomes a regular occurrence, it is crucial to seek medical care.

At AFC Urgent Care Arden, we firmly believe that informing our patients about high blood pressure is critical. High blood pressure can be harmful to your heart health, so it’s important to know what to look for. Our medical team is available to converse about treatment options and answer your question. Visit us when you need help with your blood pressure so we can assist you in managing your heart health.

What Is High Blood Pressure?

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a condition in which the force of blood against the walls of the arteries is consistently too high, and can cause damage to the blood vessels over time with the risk of serious health issues such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. Blood pressure is considered to be high when the systolic pressure (the top number) is 130 mmHg or higher, and the diastolic pressure (the bottom number) is 80 mmHg or higher.

High blood pressure rarely has visible symptoms, making it necessary to get your blood pressure tested on a regular basis.

Blood Pressure Ranges

The American Heart Association acknowledges the following ranges for blood pressure:

Normal Blood Pressure: systolic less than 120 mmHg and diastolic less than 80 mmHg

Elevated Blood Pressure: systolic between 120-129 mmHg and diastolic less than 80 mmHg

Stage 1 Hypertension: systolic between 130-139 mmHg or diastolic between 80-89 mmHg

Stage 2 Hypertension: systolic 140 mmHg & higher or diastolic at least 90 mmHg

Hypertensive Crisis: systolic 180 mmHg & higher and/or diastolic over 120 mmHg

How to Treat High Blood Pressure

One of the most important treatments for high blood pressure is lifestyle modification. This includes following a balanced diet, exercising regularly and managing stress.
In more critical cases, medications may also be prescribed to help control hypertension. These medications include angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), beta-blockers, diuretics, and calcium channel blockers.

Here are some more ways to manage your high blood pressure:

Healthy diet

Regular exercise

Limited alcohol consumption

No smoking

Reduced sodium & caffeine intake

Stress management

Need to get your blood pressure checked? Just swing by AFC Urgent Care Arden – no appointment required!