Hypertension

What is Hypertension?

Hypertension is a medical condition which describe persistently raised pressure in an individual’s blood vessels. Patients with this condition usually do not experience any symptoms. To diagnose hypertension, the readings on a blood pressure machine is persistently higher than 140/90 mmHg on 2 or more occasions.

Patients who have family history of hypertension, raised BMI, smokers, alcoholics, sedentary lifestyles, and specific medical conditions are susceptible to this condition.

Complications of Hypertension

Untreated hypertension can subsequently lead to major complications such as:

Ischemic heart disease.
Heart failure.
Stroke.
Kidney diseases, etc.

Therefore, it is strongly encouraged to treat hypertension upon diagnosis.

What can I do to reduce my blood pressure?

The mainstay of treatment for hypertension is lifestyle changes. To improve your blood pressure, you can:

Exercise at least 150 minutes per week.
Reduce weight if your BMI is more than 23.
Reduce salt intake.
Abstain from alcohol and cigarettes.

If the above lifestyle changes do not work, there are medications that your doctor can prescribe to help.

Also, it is advised to have a home blood pressure meter to monitor the blood pressure. Patients who check their own blood pressure frequently at home do better at keeping it low and can sometimes even reduce the amount of medication required.

Feel free to drop by our clinic for more information or a comprehensive assessment.