Скачать или смотреть High Blood Pressure Raises Heart Risks

About 70-million Americans have a condition that’s greatly increasing their risk for heart disease. It’s high blood pressure – or hypertension – and it’s a hidden heart risk.

“Hypertension is often known as the silent killer because most patients have no symptoms at all,” says Dr. Gary Goforth, a family practice physician with Lee Memorial Health System.

Even without symptoms, high blood pressure can be causing damage to your heart that increases your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke. It’s important to know your blood pressure numbers.

“True hypertension is when the blood pressure is consistently 140/90. There’s a term called pre-hypertension when the systolic pressure, the high number is between 121 and 139 and when the diastolic pressure, the lower number, is between 80 and 89,” says Dr. Goforth.

A top risk factor for heart disease along with high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, family history and age . . . Simply speaking, high blood pressure indicates the heart is working extra hard to pump blood.

“It’s normal for blood pressure to go up when you’re stressed or you’re exercising. If it didn’t go up that would be a problem because blood pressure is needed to perfuse the organs. But when it’s persistently elevated at that level then it puts you at risk,” says Dr. Goforth.

It’s recommended that you ask your doctor for an accurate blood pressure reading at least every two years starting at age 18. If you're 40 or older, it should be at least every year.

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Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

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