What You Need to Know About Hypertension as You Age
An extremely important health concern is hypertension or high blood pressure. This condition is not seen or heard, yet 78 million Americans have it. With hypertension being such a prevalent condition in our society, let’s expand on its causes and what concerns you need to know.

DEFINITION
The force of blood flow against the internal walls of your arteries is your blood pressure. There are two separate numbers provided when getting a blood pressure reading. The top number, or systolic reading, indicates the force of blood flow through the arteries during a heartbeat. A healthy systolic reading should be below 120. The second, or bottom number, in a blood pressure reading is known as diastolic. This number measures the force of blood flow in the arteries during the resting period between heartbeats. A reading below 80 shows healthy blood pressure. If either of these numbers rise above the healthy limits, you may have high blood pressure or be at risk for high blood pressure.
RISK FACTORS
The risk factors that increase your blood pressure include smoking, being overweight, not getting enough exercise, having a diet low in fiber, having a diet high in fat and sodium, drinking alcohol, experiencing long term stress and genetics. It is important to consult with your physician if you have any of these risk factors.
PREVENTION
Having any of the above risk factors or multiple risk factors can lead to hypertension and become extremely critical as you age. Losing weight, limiting, or eliminating alcohol consumption, getting regular exercise, reducing the stress in your life, maintaining healthy eating habits that are high in fiber and low in salts and saturated fats, and quitting smoking can all help to lower your blood pressure.
Dr. Amanambu and the staff at Pax Internal Medicine provide expert care in the treatment of hypertension. Dr. Amanambu can recommend lifestyle changes, treatment, and possible medication that is right for your specific medical need. Contact them today to make an appointment and begin your journey to well-being.

