Normal blood pressure is a reading of anything less than ¹²⁰⁄₈₀ mmHg. If, on the other hand, your blood pressure reads consistently at ¹⁴⁰⁄₉₀ mmHg or higher, you are said to have high blood pressure (also known as hypertension).

The team at AFC Urgent Care Fountain City wants you to know that you don’t have to sit back and live with high blood pressure. While some risk factors of high blood pressure cannot be changed, others can.

What Is High Blood Pressure?

When a person has high blood pressure, the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high. While some people have high blood pressure and no extra side effects, others may develop symptoms or even other medical conditions due to the hypertension.

High Blood Pressure Risk Factors

• Advanced age
• Diabetes
• Family history of the condition
• Gender
• Physical inactivity
• Being overweight or obese
• Tobacco use
• Unhealthy diet

Can High Blood Pressure Be Treated?

While there are medications available to lower a person’s blood pressure, sometimes lifestyle changes are all that is needed to help reduce a person’s blood pressure reading to a more normal range.

High Blood Pressure Treatment

• Cut back on sugar.
• Get plenty of quality sleep.
• Lower sodium intake.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Exercise regularly.
• Limit processed foods.
• Stop smoking.

Do you have high blood pressure? Make a visit to AFC Urgent Care Fountain City to speak with a knowledgeable and experienced physician who can make suggestions on how to lower it naturally or with medication.