Hypertension, the “Silent Killer”
More than 120 million adults in the United States — roughly 47% of the population — have hypertension. Only about half of those people are being treated, and only one in five of those being treated have it well controlled.
Think of your cardiovascular system like the plumbing in your home. The heart is the central pump, delivering blood with its vital nutrients and oxygen to every organ in the body. The blood vessels are the pipes. Blood pressure is the measurement of the force inside those pipes. When pressure runs too high, it can cause damage, leaks or system failure.
The heart is one of the main targets of high blood pressure. When blood pressure is elevated, the heart has to work harder to push blood through the body. Over time, that added work can cause the heart muscle to thicken and stiffen, making it less efficient and eventually leading to heart failure. High blood pressure can also damage the lining of the arteries, increasing the buildup of blockages that can cause a heart attack.
Similar damage can occur in the blood vessels of the brain, raising the risk of stroke and vascular dementia, a type of cognitive decline caused by long-term, low-level damage from high blood pressure.
The kidneys act as the body’s filtration system. High blood pressure can scar the small blood vessels inside them, eventually leading to kidney failure and the need for dialysis.
There are also tiny blood vessels in the back of the eye that can stretch and bleed when blood pressure stays elevated for a long time, causing vision loss or blindness.
The good news is that blood pressure is controllable. Daily exercise, at least 20 minutes a day, a low-sodium diet and avoiding smoking can all make a meaningful difference. When lifestyle changes are not enough, there are many medications available to help. The goal is to keep blood pressure below 130/80, or even lower for patients who already have vascular health concerns.
Hypertension is called the silent killer for a reason. Most people have no symptoms until serious damage has already been done. If you have not had your blood pressure checked recently, this is a good place to start. It’s easy to do at home using an automatic cuff-style upper arm monitor or during a visit to your health care clinic.
Dr. Julie Cahill is a family medicine physician at Bothwell Family Medicine Associates located on the first floor of the Healing Arts Center at 3700 W. 10th St. in Sedalia. To schedule an appointment, call the clinic at 660.827.2883 or Centralized Scheduling at 660.829.8888.