You can feel perfectly well and still have high blood pressure.
That is one reason regular blood pressure checks are important. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, often produces no obvious symptoms, yet persistent high blood pressure can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and other complications.
The good news is that blood pressure can be measured quickly and managed when elevated.
What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood against the walls of your arteries.
When you have your blood pressure measured, you will normally see two numbers:
Systolic pressure is the pressure when your heart contracts.
Diastolic pressure is the pressure when your heart relaxes between beats.
A reading might, for example, be written as 120/80 mmHg.
However, one blood pressure reading does not necessarily tell the whole story. Your healthcare professional can interpret your readings in the context of your health and other risk factors.
Why should you check it?
High blood pressure can develop without noticeable symptoms. Regular measurement can therefore help identify a problem that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Blood pressure is also one of several measurable factors associated with cardiovascular risk. Blood glucose, blood lipids, body weight and other factors can provide additional information about overall health.
What can affect blood pressure?
Several factors can influence cardiovascular health.
These include:
- Excessive salt intake
- An unhealthy diet
- Physical inactivity
- Tobacco use
- Harmful alcohol use
- Overweight and obesity
- Certain medical conditions
- Family history and age
Lifestyle factors do not affect everyone in exactly the same way, but addressing modifiable risk factors can contribute to better cardiovascular health.
What can you do for your heart?
A healthy diet is an important part of cardiovascular health. A varied diet containing vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains and other nutritious foods, while limiting excessive salt, free sugars and unhealthy fats, supports overall health.
Regular physical activity also provides important health benefits and is associated with a lower risk of several chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease and hypertension.
If you smoke or use tobacco, stopping can substantially reduce cardiovascular risk.
If you drink alcohol, avoiding harmful or excessive consumption is also important.
Don’t wait for symptoms
Because hypertension may have no obvious symptoms, feeling well is not a reliable indication that your blood pressure is healthy.
A simple blood pressure check can provide useful information. If your reading is repeatedly elevated, speak with a qualified healthcare professional for appropriate assessment.
If you already take medicine for high blood pressure, continue taking it as prescribed and do not stop treatment simply because you feel well.
Asterix Pharmacy: Supporting your cardiovascular health
Asterix Pharmacy’s cardiovascular health support and screening services are designed to help people become more aware of important health measurements and seek appropriate professional guidance.
Know your numbers. Understand your health. Take action when necessary.
Speak with Asterix Pharmacy about our cardiovascular health support services.
This article is for general information and does not diagnose or treat hypertension. Individual blood pressure targets and treatment decisions should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.
