Health Issue: Hypertension

If you have high blood pressure, you will have regularly scheduled appointments with your doctor.

Even if you have not been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is important to have your blood pressure checked during your yearly check-up, especially if someone in your family has or had high blood pressure.

Call your health care provider right away if home monitoring shows that your blood pressure remains high or you have any of the following symptoms:

• Chest pain
• Confusion
• Excessive tiredness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Severe headache
• Shortness of breath
• Significant sweating
• Vision changes

High blood pressure isn’t a problem that you can treat and then ignore. It’s a condition you need to manage for the rest of your life. To keep your blood pressure under control:

• Take your medications properly. If side effects or costs pose problems, don’t stop taking your medications. Ask your doctor about other options.
• Schedule regular doctor visits. It takes a team effort to treat high blood pressure successfully. Your doctor can’t do it alone, and neither can you. Work with your doctor to bring your blood pressure to a safe level – and keep it there.
• Adopt healthy habits. Eat healthy foods, lose excess weight and get regular physical activity. Limit alcohol. If you smoke, quit.
• Manage stress. Say no to extra tasks, release negative thoughts, maintain good relationships, and remain patient and optimistic. Getting plenty of sleep can help, too.

Sticking to lifestyle changes can be difficult – especially if you don’t see or feel any symptoms of high blood pressure. If you need motivation, remember the risks associated with uncontrolled high blood pressure. It may help to enlist the support of your family and friends as well.