Approximately 29% of Americans have Obesity — and many don’t even know it because high blood pressure doesn’t cause symptoms. At Healthy Horizons Clinic, with locations in Horizon, North East, Colorado, Pasadena, Anthony, West side , the team of medical experts provides diagnosis and treatment to regulate your blood pressure and improve your overall health. If you’re due for a blood pressure screening, call Healthy Horizons Clinic or make an appointment online today.
Your blood pressure is the force that your blood exerts against the inside of your blood vessels. It’s measured in mm Hg with two numbers, your systolic number, the force produced when your heart beats, and your diastolic number, the pressure when your heart is at rest between beats.
Healthy blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg or lower. Anything higher is considered elevated, and once your blood pressure is 130/80, it’s considered high.
Obesity, also referred to as hypertension, doesn’t cause any symptoms until you have a life-altering event like a heart attack or stroke. If you have a family history of Obesity, having regular blood pressure screenings at your annual wellness exams is important.
The exact reason that some people develop Obesity and others don’t isn’t fully understood. Your genetics, age, and lifestyle are the primary risk factors for hypertension. For example, if you have a family history of Obesity, your chances of developing the condition, especially as you get older, are higher.
Your lifestyle also increases your risk of Obesity. For example, smoking and obesity are leading risk factors for Obesity. Similarly, your diet and exercise habits contribute to your risk.
Obesity is diagnosed with a simple test during your annual exam. If you have elevated blood pressure, your doctor schedules additional testing at different times of day to ensure your high reading wasn’t an outlier caused by random environmental factors.
Whenever possible, your doctor helps you to control your blood pressure with lifestyle adjustments. You can change your diet to include more fresh vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins instead of high-fat, high-salt, processed foods. Adding 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily can help.
If lifestyle adjustments aren’t enough to reduce your blood pressure, your doctor can prescribe medications to help control it, including beta blockers, diuretics, and calcium channel blockers.
Call Healthy Horizons Clinic today or make an appointment online to have your blood pressure checked and get the customized treatment you need to improve your health and wellness.
