Diagnosing Hypertension

Hypertension, or Excessive Blood Pressure, is any blood strain reading that is above one hundred forty/90. The primary quantity is the systolic reading, while the second number is the diastolic reading. There is also a more moderen class known as “pre-hypertension.” Pre-hypertension is a blood strain reading of a hundred and twenty-139/eighty-89. If your blood pressure is 130/89, you wouldn’t have hypertension, however you do have pre-hypertension, and it is time to start fascinated by what you are able to do to prevent hypertension. Your doctor will seemingly have a severe dialogue with you about your weight-reduction plan, your degree of exercise, and your weight.

Now, blood pressure readings fluctuate extensively, not solely from particular person to particular person but additionally in the identical particular person at totally different times of the day. Such things as consuming, ingesting, train, stress, and smoking can affect blood pressure readings at totally different instances of the day. Just because one blood strain reading is excessive, does not imply that you’ve got hypertension and want a prescription to deal with it.

When your doctor first diagnoses high blood pressure, the prognosis should not be based simply upon a high blood pressure reading. There are certain assessments that your physician ought to order. Blood exams ought to be ordered and should include a complete blood depend, fasting lipids (ldl cholesterol), fasting blood sugar, renal (kidney) features, liver capabilities, and electrolytes (potassium, sodium levels), along with a urinalysis.

There should also be a chest x-ray to find out if there’s enlargement of your coronary heart, as coronary heart enlargement can happen over time with hypertension. And, there must be an electrocardiogram to examine for any heart abnormalities.

After these assessments have been accomplished, and primarily based upon several blood stress readings, your doctor will discuss your therapy options with you. He might counsel remedy, or he may counsel some life-style adjustments, or he may recommend a combination of the two.