Hypertension

What is hypertension?

Blood pressure measures the force with which blood moves through your arteries. Hypertension occurs when your blood pressure is consistently higher than normal. This force is measured with two numbers (120/80). The systolic pressure is the upper number and indicates the pressure in your arteries as your heart beats. The lower number (diastolic pressure) measures the pressure between heartbeats.

What problems does high blood pressure cause?

Elevated blood pressure strains your arteries and can eventually damage the blood vessel walls. This causes them to become less elastic and thicker than normal, which decreases blood flow to your organs. The longer your elevated blood pressure goes untreated, the more damage it causes. It’s sometimes responsible for:  

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Heart failure
• Kidney dysfunction
• Loss of vision

What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?

Hypertension is rarely symptomatic in its initial stages. Headaches and nosebleeds can occur, but they’re rare unless your blood pressure has reached life-threatening levels. In fact, many people have no idea their blood pressure is problematic until it’s noted on a random check during a visit to your doctor.

What is the treatment for hypertension?

Because many underlying health conditions can play a role in hypertension, the first step in treatment is often evaluating your overall health status. For example, high blood pressure can cause kidney dysfunction but may also occur secondarily as a result of kidney problems.

Comprehensive blood pressure treatment also addresses other contributing factors such as:

• Poor diet leading to nutritional deficiencies
• Excessive weight
• Physical inactivity
• Stressful lifestyle

What is heart rate variability?

Your heart rate is the speed at which your heart beats in a minute. Heart rate variability (HRV) measures the time between beats or the rhythm of your heartbeat. HRV changes with activity, rest, and exposure to stress.

HRV is linked to your autonomic nervous system, which regulates automatic processes in the body such as blood sugar, body temperature, blood pressure, and digestive processes. Identifying your HRV through diagnostic studies helps your physician recommend meditation and biofeedback therapies that are clinically proven to measurably improve your HRV and lower blood pressure.