Managing high blood pressure
When you have high blood pressure, the force of blood against your artery walls is too strong, making the heart work extra hard to move blood.
Although high blood pressure has no symptoms, over time it can damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes and other organs. Controlling high blood pressure can help prevent this damage.
Specialized treatment for hypertension
The Hypertension Center at Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital - Dallas provides diagnosis and treatment options to manage hypertension, or high blood pressure. Through the center, patients will be connected to a care team specially trained in hypertension treatment.
It is important to manage high blood pressure to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. That’s why we are committed to involving the patient and their primary care physician in a personalized treatment plan involving education and achievable lifestyle changes.
Risk factors for high blood pressure
If you have any of these risk factors, you should make extra efforts to lower your blood pressure:
- Your parent, brother or sister has high blood pressure or heart disease
- You have diabetes, heart disease or kidney disease
Certain lifestyle factors can increase the risk of high blood pressure and heart problems. The key to a healthier you is to change as many of these risk factors as you can:
- Choose foods that are low in salt and low in saturated (animal) fat
- Get plenty of exercise. Make your goal 30 minutes of activity every day
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Don't smoke
- Limit alcohol to two drinks per day
Ideal blood pressure for most adults: Less than 120/80
Checking your blood pressure
You can have your blood pressure checked at your physician's office, at a health fair or you can even check it yourself at home
As a cuff is inflated around your arm, your blood pressure is measured as your heart pumps and between beats.
What the blood pressure numbers mean
A blood pressure check gives two numbers, one over the other. If either the top or bottom number is consistently above what is considered normal, you may have high blood pressure.
The top number is pressure when the heart beats (systolic). The bottom number is the pressure when the heart is at rest (diastolic). Ask your physician or healthcare provider what blood pressure numbers are healthy for you.
Check your own blood pressure with an in-home blood pressure monitor
- Use correct cuff size
- Put cuff on bare arm
- Support arm at heart level
- Keep legs uncrossed
- Support back/feet
- Empty bladder first
- Don't have a conversation
Medication for high blood pressure
Your physician may prescribe medication to help lower your blood pressure. Some types of blood pressure medications act on the heart and blood vessels; others remove excess fluid or salt from the body.
Your physician will choose the best blood pressure medicine(s) for you. Be sure to continue with all parts of your treatment plan while taking the medication.
Taking medication properly
- Be sure to take your medication at the same time each day
- Write yourself notes, use an alarm or keep your pills by your toothbrush to remember to take them
- Ask your physician what you should do if you miss a pill
- Never stop taking your medication unless your physician tells you to stop. Stopping on your own could be harmful