High blood pressure—you’ve probably heard it mentioned at
the doctor’s office or on television, but did you know you could be at risk? No
matter your age or background, you could be susceptible; even if you’re
otherwise healthy and not be exhibiting any symptoms, you could still have high
blood pressure, also known as hypertension.
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute asserts that as many as 1
in 3 Americans struggle with high blood pressure, but some don’t pay as much attention
to it as they should because they feel fine.
Even if you are feeling symptom free, checking for high blood pressure
is a key component of staying healthy now and in the future.
One important reason to get screened for hypertension is
because the process is a simple way to gain important information about your
health. Blood pressure screenings are
inexpensive, painless, and take just a few minutes. This noninvasive procedure is much more
pleasant and faster than blood work or ultrasounds, and offers a key window
into a person’s heart and lung health. Blood
pressure is traditionally measured with the use of a rubber cuff that squeezes the
upper arm, and a stethoscope through which a doctor listens to the speed of the
patient’s heartbeat. However, increasingly, automated machines that perform
this process are being used in doctor’s office, hospitals, and even screening
centers inside drug stores and medical office. It’s so easy, there’s no
excuse not to do it!
Another important reason routine blood pressure screenings
are important is that they serve as an early detection method for a variety of
dangerous diseases. Some people with
hypertension don’t initially feel symptoms, and even people who are otherwise
healthy and don’t have other risk factors for high blood pressure (like a
high-sodium diet or weight problems) may still be at risk of having high blood
pressure because of a genetic predisposition or high-stress lifestyle. Whatever the cause, high blood pressure
increases stress on the heart and can eventually lead to heart attack,
congestive heart failure, stroke, kidney damage, vision and memory loss, and
angina. High blood pressure is also
often an indicator of diabetes, and it is suggested that people with diabetes
aim for a target blood pressure even lower than average, to reduce the heart’s
amount of work and the risk for increased complications. According to the American Heart Association,
the classification for hypertension in adults is a systolic blood pressure of
140 mmHg or higher.
Even if you feel healthy and don’t think you have blood pressure check, you should still
be screened; high blood pressure is often referred to as “the silent killer”
because of its lack of symptoms until it causes serious, often irreversible
problems. And the earlier you know about
high blood pressure, the quicker you can take steps to reverse the damage and
prevent heart disease in your future. Your doctor can help you lower high blood
pressure in a variety of ways, including a change of diet, quitting smoking and
decreasing alcohol intake, increasing exercise and weight loss, stress
reduction, and prescription medication.
Experts recommend that you have your high blood pressure testing
NYC at least every two years, or more often if it’s too high or you have other
risk factors for heart disease. If
you’re in the New York City area, the Walk-in Clinic of New York is the perfect
place to get a high blood pressure screening. Walk in clinic NYC is affordable and convenient, with same-day, evening
and weekend appointments available, and you can have your blood pressure
screened and talk with a board certified NYC doctor about ways to reduce your risk of high blood pressure. Call today at
(212) 696-5900!
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