3 Lies You're Believing About High Blood Pressure
Complications of untreated high blood pressure are one of the most common reasons why people walk through the doors of the emergency room. So many people believe so many false things about high blood pressure and what it does to the body.
So let’s start off by making sure we are all on the same page.
Blood pressure is the force that your heart gives to supply blood to your body. We categorize blood pressure in a few different ways.
High blood pressure (hypertension) is when the force your heart gives to supply blood to your body is high over a consistent period of time.
Now…let’s jump into some of the lies you’re believing about high blood pressure.
Lie #1: I don’t have to worry about my blood pressure.
Over 103 million Americans have high blood pressure and many don’t know it. The bad thing about having high blood pressure is that it’s silent. If you aren’t being properly monitored, it can easily go undetected.
Untreated high blood pressure can lead to:
stroke
vision loss
heart failure
heart attack
kidney failure
sexual dysfunction
No one wants any of those problems right?
It’s important to have your blood pressure screened regularly by your primary physician to prevent the many complications that untreated high blood pressure can cause.
Lie #2: I don’t need to keep taking my blood pressure medicine.
Many times people are started on a blood pressure medication after they come to their doctor about a specific problem. After their prescription runs out, they stop taking it. There are several different reasons why this is concerning. Some medications we prescribe may cause worsened blood pressure if stopped suddenly. Blood pressure medicines work slowly, over time, to lower your blood pressure. Sudden spikes in blood pressure can cause more severe damage. If you’re feeling better while taking your medicine, great! It’s likely working! If you are experiencing a possible side effect of the medication, it’s important to talk to your doctor who can work on adjusting your medications safely.
Some people stop taking their medicine because they don’t want to take pills. You can work with your doctor on a plan to improve your diet and physical activity to hopefully wean you off taking medications.
Lie #3: High blood pressure runs in my family so I know I’m going to have it too.
Not necessarily! There can be a genetic component to having high blood pressure. However, recent studies have shown that people are more likely to have high blood pressure if they have poor diet and exercise habits. You are not automatically cursed to have high blood pressure if it runs in your family. It’s important to focus on having a healthy diet and regularly incorporating physical activity to lower the chances that you’ll be diagnosed with high blood pressure.
What are some other lies that you’ve heard others believing about high blood pressure?