Prevention and Management of Hypertension and Prehypertension

Hypertension, known commonly as high blood pressure, is a serious condition that can lead to other life threatening medical conditions when untreated. It is estimated that 1 out of 3 Americans are living with high blood pressure. If you suffer from high blood pressure, prehypertension, or are at risk for hypertension, prevention is key.

Health Risks Associated with Hypertension

Hypertension has been know to increase your chances of developing medical conditions such as:

  • Heart Disease and heart problems

    • Damaged and narrowed arteries

    • Aneurysm

    • Coronary artery disease

    • Enlarged left heart

    • Heart failure

  • Brain Conditions

    • Stroke

    • Dementia

    • Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

    • Mild cognitive impairment

  • Kidney Disease

    • Kidney failure

    • Kidney scarring

    • Kidney artery aneurysm

Risk Factors For Hypertension

If you identify with one or more of the risk factors below, it is time to work with Total HealthcareMD to develop a wellness plan to get healthy and take control of your blood pressure.

  • Overweight or obese

  • Lack of physical activity or exercise

  • Aging

  • Family history of high blood pressure

  • High levels of sodium intake

  • Race (African Americans are more likely to develop high blood pressure)

  • Males who drink 2 or more alcoholic beverages a day, or women who drink 1 or more alcoholic beverages a day

Although you can not always control falling victim to high blood pressure, adopting healthy lifestyle habits can go a long way in helping to prevent hypertension and managing prehypertension. These healthy lifestyle habits will also reduce your risk of high blood pressure related health problems, such as heart disease, down the road.

Tips for Managing and Preventing Hypertension and Prehypertension

Although there are several hypertension risk factors you cannot control, such as race, family history, and age, there are many that you do have control over, such as your weight and exercise. If you are living with hypertension, or are at risk for developing hypertension, below are a few helpful tips.

  1. Exercise Regularly: We know exercise is good for your heart, but it is also good for your blood pressure. The more exercise you get, the better. However, it is okay to start slow and work yourself into it, especially if you are new to working out. The team at Total HealthcareMD will help you create an exercise plan that will fit your lifestyle and activity level.

  2. Adopt a Healthy Diet:  A healthy, well rounded diet can help manage your blood pressure. Try to limit your intake of fat, sugar, and excess calories. Opt for large helpings of fruits and vegetables, such as those that are high in potassium. A low-sodium diet can help keep blood pressure normal, so pass on the salt or processed foods when possible. When you chose to work with Total HealthcareMD, we will create a customized meal plan tailored to your body and the amount of calories you need to be ingesting each day.

  3. Limit Alcohol: Since alcohol intake is a risk factor for hypertension, it is important to try to limit your intake in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. For men, that means no more than 2 alcoholic beverages a day, and for women, no more than one.

  4. Maintain a Healthy Weight: If you are overweight, losing weight may be the key to avoiding hypertension. Sometimes losing as little as 10 pounds will greatly reduce your risk for developing high blood pressure. The professionals at Total HealthcareMD will work with you one-on-one to create a wellness plan to help you shed excess weight and keep it off.

  5. Monitor your Blood Pressure: Often times you may have increased blood pressure and not even know it. The best way to stay ahead of hypertension is awareness. Monitoring your blood pressure on a normal basis is a great start. If your blood pressure falls into the prehypertension range of 120-139/80-89 mmHg, then you need to take extra precautions to safeguard against hypertension.

Total HealthcareMD Can Help

If you are at risk for high blood pressure and are ready for a lifestyle change, let Total HealthcareMD help. Our team of medical professionals will create a customized wellness and lifestyle plan to help in the management of hypertension and prehypertension. Request a complimentary consultation today.