When Is It Time to Consider STD Screening?
About 1 in 5 Americans has a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Wondering when to get tested? This month’s blog breaks it down so you can protect yourself and your partners.
Know Your Blood Pressure Numbers: What Your Reading Means
Every time you visit the doctor, you get your blood pressure checked. However, if you’re not a medical professional, you may not know what the numbers mean. That might not seem like a big deal, but understanding your blood pressure is crucial.
High blood pressure readings can increase the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
At Himalaya Family Medicine Clinic in Aurora, Colorado, our family medicine doctor, Bipin Kumar, MD, specializes in diagnosing and treating high blood pressure.
Since May is High Blood Pressure Education Month, we’re using this blog to explain what your blood pressure numbers say about your heart health and why they matter.
Understanding a blood pressure reading
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and features two numbers. A reading looks like 120/80 mmHg.
The top number (120) represents systolic blood pressure, which measures the force of your blood against the walls of your arteries when your heart beats. The bottom number (80) represents diastolic blood pressure, which measures the force of your blood between beats.
Blood pressure categories: When to be concerned
The American Heart Association defines normal, healthy blood pressure as 120/80 mmHg. Higher readings may indicate an increased risk of heart disease, so you should know where you stand.
Here’s a closer look at blood pressure readings and what those numbers mean:
- Elevated blood pressure: 120-129 systolic and less than 80 diastolic
- High blood pressure (Stage 1): 130-139 systolic or 80-89 diastolic
- High blood pressure (Stage 2): 140+ systolic or 90+ diastolic
- Hypertensive crises: 180+/120+, a medical emergency
Everyone’s blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day, so a single high reading doesn’t necessarily mean you have heart disease. Still, consistently elevated numbers can strain your heart and blood vessels over time, so routine monitoring is crucial.
How to keep blood pressure within the optimal range
High blood pressure rarely presents symptoms, so many people don’t realize there’s a problem until they visit the doctor. Still, a heart-healthy lifestyle can provide peace of mind and significantly reduce your risk.
To support your cardiovascular health, we recommend:
- Eating a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains
- Limiting sodium (salt) intake
- Exercising regularly, ideally 30 minutes at least five days per week
- Limiting alcohol and quitting smoking
- Keeping your stress under control
- Getting plenty of sleep
- Taking medications as prescribed
You don’t have to be perfect to reap the benefits of these lifestyle changes. Simply being conscious of how certain activities affect your heart can go a long way toward reducing your stroke and heart attack risk.
Request a blood pressure screening today
If it’s been more than a year since you had your blood pressure checked, schedule a screening at Himalaya Family Medicine Clinic. Call our office at 303-351-1800 or book online today.
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