High Blood Pressure
Know the Risks. Take Control. Protect Your Health.
At Kazdan Family Medicine, we specialize in educating patients about their hypertension risks, empowering them to manage their blood pressure effectively, and safeguarding their overall health for the future.
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What Is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, means the force of your blood pushing against your blood vessels is too strong for too long.
When this happens, it puts extra stress on your blood vessels, causing them to become narrow, stiff, or damaged over time.
As your blood vessels narrow, your heart has to work harder to move blood through your body. If left untreated, this can lead to serious health issues like:
Heart Attack & Stroke
Heart Failure
Kidney damage
Sexual dysfunction
Vision loss
Vascular dementia
As blood pressure rises, your blood vessels start to narrow and stiffen.This makes it harder for blood to flow—and forces your heart to work overtime.
Understand Your Blood Pressure Reading
Blood pressure is written as two numbers, like this 120/80.
The top number (systolic) measures pressure when your heart beats. The bottom number (diastolic) measures pressure when your heart rests.
Normal is 120/80 and below.
High blood pressure starts at 130/80
Anything over 180/120 is a medical emergency.
If your numbers stay high over time, it can lead to serious health problems—but it can be managed with healthy habits and treatment.
The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to check it regularly—at home, at the pharmacy, or during a visit with your doctor.
What Can Cause High Blood Pressure?
Eating too much salt or unhealthy food
Not moving around enough (like sitting too much)
Being overweight
Unmanaged Stress
Smoking or drinking alcohol
Not getting enough sleep
Sometimes, high blood pressure runs in families, other times, health problems like kidney disease or hormone imbalances can cause high blood pressure too.
Managing High Your Blood Pressure
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Check Your Heart Health Today
Want to live your best life? Whether you're managing high blood pressure or simply want to stay ahead of it, Kazdan Family Medicine can help you understand your numbers and build a plan to keep your heart healthy.
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