High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure (also known as hypertension or essential hypertension) is a common medical condition that affects millions of individuals in the United States and is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease including heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. Screening for high blood pressure is vitally important to reduce its effects on one’s health. In November of 2017, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology set new standards for diagnosing high blood pressure.
Normal blood pressure is considered a systolic blood pressure (top number) less than 120 and a diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) less than 80.
Borderline elevated blood pressure is considered 120-129 systolic with a diastolic less than 80.
Stage 1 hypertension is considered blood pressure 130-139 systolic OR 80-89 diastolic.
Stage 2 hypertension is considered blood pressure 140 or higher systolic OR 90 or higher diastolic.
Dr. Benjamin Schnurr and the providers at Aspire Family Medicine in Greenwood Village, Colorado, can assist you in screening for high blood pressure and can also help you manage your high blood pressure by helping you optimize lifestyle factors that can affect blood pressure such as salt intake. Medical therapy is sometimes necessary to control blood pressure as well. We are your high blood pressure specialists in the Denver Tech Center.
Normal blood pressure is considered a systolic blood pressure (top number) less than 120 and a diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) less than 80.
Borderline elevated blood pressure is considered 120-129 systolic with a diastolic less than 80.
Stage 1 hypertension is considered blood pressure 130-139 systolic OR 80-89 diastolic.
Stage 2 hypertension is considered blood pressure 140 or higher systolic OR 90 or higher diastolic.
Dr. Benjamin Schnurr and the providers at Aspire Family Medicine in Greenwood Village, Colorado, can assist you in screening for high blood pressure and can also help you manage your high blood pressure by helping you optimize lifestyle factors that can affect blood pressure such as salt intake. Medical therapy is sometimes necessary to control blood pressure as well. We are your high blood pressure specialists in the Denver Tech Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have high blood pressure?
High blood pressure for most individuals causes no symptoms. Adults should be screened periodically for high blood pressure by a medical provider experienced in measuring high blood pressure. To make a diagnosis of hypertension two or more elevated blood readings are necessary over a period of time. Hypertension cannot be diagnosed with a single blood pressure reading. Screening for high blood pressure often occurs during an Annual Physical Exam.
If I have high blood pressure, do I need to take medication to lower it?
There are many lifestyle factors that contribute to elevated blood pressure such as excessive salt intake, excessive alcohol intake, or lack of exercise. Dr. Benjamin Schnurr and the providers at Aspire Family Medicine in Greenwood Village, Colorado, will assist in screening you for high blood pressure, and if diagnosed with hypertension they can discuss with you treatment options can help lower your blood pressure. Individuals who have moderate to severe elevations in their blood pressure will usually require medication to bring their blood pressure down to a desired level. Reducing blood pressure significantly reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease including heart attack, stroke, and other blood vessel diseases.
