How Do I Know If I Have High Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is one of the vital signs your doctor measures each time you come into the office. It can provide important information about your heart’s performance and your overall cardiovascular health.

At Northwest Houston Heart Center, cardiologists Dr. A. Adnan Aslam and Dr. Roy Norman remind our patients about the importance of blood pressure measurements to benefit their overall wellness. It’s possible to have hypertension (high blood pressure) without knowing it, as it doesn’t present symptoms in its early stages.

Here’s what you need to know about high blood pressure.

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of the arteries that carry the blood from the heart to the body. It’s recorded as two numbers, one “over” the other:

1. Systolic blood pressure

This is the top number. It measures the pressure of your blood against the artery walls when the heart beats.

2. Diastolic blood pressure

This is the lower number. It measures the pressure of your blood against the artery walls while the heart muscle rests between beats.

The doctor may use a higher systolic or diastolic reading to diagnose high blood pressure, aka hypertension. However, the systolic blood pressure indicates more about the risk factors for heart disease for people over 50.

Blood pressure can increase as people, because large arteries become stiffer, there’s more plaque buildup over time. Higher rates of other diseases, including those of the heart and blood vessels, increase the risk of hypertension.

5 stages of blood pressure ranges

After taking your blood pressure, the doctor assigns the reading to one of five categories:

Normal: less than 120 over less than 80
Elevated: the first number is 120-129, and the second number is less than 80
Stage 1 hypertension: the first number is 130-139 and the second number is 80-89
Stage 2 hypertension: the first number is 140+ and the second number is 90+
Hypertensive crisis: a number greater than 180 over a number greater than 120

If your blood pressure remains high, it forces the heart to work harder than it’s able, and it injures blood vessels and damages your brain, eyes, and kidneys.

And if your numbers are in the hypertensive crisis range, call 911 or get to your nearest emergency room ASAP, as you’re at severe risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

How can I tell if I have high blood pressure?

The simplest and easiest way to determine blood pressure is by using a blood pressure cuff, like your doctor uses in the office. It can be taken by a manually inflated cuff and a stethoscope or a machine that self-inflates and gives you a digital readout.

The doctor measures your pressure each time you come in for a checkup, but you can supplement those infrequent tests by picking up an at-home blood pressure unit at any pharmacy. By taking your pressure regularly, you can spot any trends upward, which should signal you to make an appointment at our office.

If you’re getting borderline-elevated readings, the doctor may take a wait-and-see approach, or they may put you on blood pressure medication to help your body regulate the pressure. They’re also likely to recommend lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet, an exercise regimen, and good-quality sleep.

If you haven’t had your blood pressure taken in awhile, it’s time to make an appointment at Northwest Houston Heart Center so we can test it. Give us a call at any of our locations (Tomball, Cypress, Magnolia, and The Woodlands, Texas), or book online today. You can also text us at 832-402-9518.