Afrooz Ardestani, MD, is a specialty care cardiologist board-certified in cardiovascular disease, nuclear cardiology, adult comprehensive echocardiography and internal medicine.
High blood pressure is very common. Nearly half of adults in the U.S. have blood pressure above the healthy range. But just because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s no big deal.
Untreated, high blood pressure — also called hypertension — can damage your heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
But there is one good thing about hypertension: It’s treatable. Taking control of your blood pressure can help prevent serious health problems down the line. It could even save your life.
Blood Pressure Ranges
How high is too high? Blood pressure readings consist of two numbers: an upper (systolic) number and a lower (diastolic) number. Together these numbers determine your blood pressure range.
Masked Hypertension
Often, people have no symptoms of high blood pressure. Even in the doctor’s office, it can be a hidden problem. As many as a third of U.S. adults have what’s known as “masked hypertension.” For them, blood pressure appears normal in the doctor’s office. But in their daily lives, they may actually have elevated blood pressure.
Masked hypertension seems to be particularly common in people who regularly experience high stress at work or in other areas of their life. Stress isn’t the only culprit, though. These other factors also increase risk:
Diagnosing High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is more common as we age. So even if your blood pressure has always been in the normal range, you can’t assume it will stay that way forever. That’s why it’s so important to know your numbers.
One of the easiest ways to keep tabs on your blood pressure is to use an at-home blood pressure cuff, which you can find at most pharmacies. Start by checking in the morning and evening, and talk to your doctor if you find the readings are higher than the ones you get in the doctor’s office.
If you or your doctor suspects you might have masked hypertension, he or she might send you home with a cuff to wear for 24 hours to get a better picture of your blood pressure throughout the day and night.
Lowering Blood Pressure
Many people think if their blood pressure is just “a little high,” it’s not something they need to worry about. But even mildly elevated blood pressure can be harmful. Fortunately, there are a number of straightforward things people can do to lower hypertension:
For many people, those lifestyle changes help a lot. If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, medication can help lower the numbers. We have many safe medications we can offer to bring your blood pressure back down to the normal range and significantly lower your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Taking your blood pressure is a small thing, but it’s a big step toward a healthy heart. Need help keeping your heart healthy? Find an Inova heart specialist and learn more about the award-winning doctors at the Inova Heart and Vascular Institute.
Inova Loudoun Hospital scores an ‘A’ for 25 consecutive grading periods Fairfax, VA, May 1,…
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 50% of adults in…
Heather Perez Saiz, MA, LCSW, CCTSW, is the Independent Living Donor Advocate at Inova Fairfax…
Palak Shah, MD, MS Fairfax, VA — A research team at Inova Schar Heart and…
Jason Bonomo, MD, PhD, is a cardiologist at Inova Schar Heart and Vascular. Dr. Bonomo…
Update as of April 24, 2024: Inova’s structural heart team has now completed the first…