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Lakewood, NJ - According to the American Heart Association,
about one in three adults in the United States has high blood pressure.
However, because there are no symptoms, nearly one-third of these
people don't know they have it. Uncontrolled high blood pressure
can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure.
The only way to tell if you have high blood pressure is to have
your blood pressure checked.
Moshe Bacharach, MD, Chief of Cardiology at Kimball Medical Center,
explains that having your blood pressure checked is the first step
in maintaining a healthy heart. “Be sure to schedule an annual
physical exam each year and have your blood pressure checked,” he
says. “Your doctor will tell you if you have high blood pressure
and will work with you to determine what your next steps are,” says
Dr. Bacharach. If your blood pressure is elevated, you should schedule
regular follow-ups with your physician.
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
there are four general categories for blood pressure measurements:
(Blood pressure does not increase with age; therefore the numbers
below are not age adjusted.)
A reading below 120 mm Hg systolic pressure and below 80 mm
Hg diastolic pressure
A systolic pressure between 120 - 139 mm Hg and diastolic
pressure between 80 - 89 mm Hg
A systolic pressure between 140 - 159 mm Hg and diastolic
pressure between 90 – 99 mm Hg
A systolic pressure of 160 mm Hg or higher and diastolic pressure
100 mm Hg or higher
There are several uncontrollable risk factors for high blood
pressure including your age, race and family history. The risk
of developing high blood pressure increases as you age. High
blood pressure is more common among African Americans and develops
at an earlier age, and often with serious complications including
heart attack and stroke. High blood pressure tends to run in
families- so it is important to know your family history.
Controllable risk factors include: obesity or being overweight;
physical inactivity; smoking; high sodium diet; low potassium
diet; low vitamin D intake; drinking too much alcohol; stress;
and certain chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and kidney
disease.
“Making simple lifestyle changes scan help to control
high blood pressure,” explains Dr. Bacharach. “But
sometimes it just isn't enough and you may need to be on medication
to help lower your blood pressure,” he said.
“There are many different types of blood pressure medications
available today. They lower the blood pressure in different ways,” explains
Dr. Bacharach. “Your doctor will work with you to determine
what cause or causes may be contributing to your high blood pressure
and prescribe a single medication or a combination of them to
get your high blood pressure under control. It is common to be
on several different medications for good blood pressure control.
The average American will require between three and four different
medications.”
“Once you get your blood pressure under control, you
need to stick to the regimen as discussed with your doctor. High
blood pressure is a chronic medical condition that most likely
needs to be monitored and managed for the rest of your life,” says
Dr. Bacharach.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Bacharach or another cardiologist
on staff at Kimball Medical Center, please call the Barnabas Health Care Link at 1-888-724-7123.
Date: March 17, 2009
CONTACT: Carrie Cristello
Director, Public Relations
732-923-6552
ccristello@barnabashealth.org
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