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In a 1993 episode, Frasier Crane becomes obsessed with finding out how another doctor his age could have passed away from a heart attack. Especially when the other physician was in his early 40s and seemed to be in good health.
Though it’s been many years since that episode aired, it’s an apt description of how we often go about life—not thinking much about our health until we’re symptomatic or a scare befalls someone we know.
The only problem is when we face something like hypertension, there are often no symptoms. That’s why high blood pressure is frequently called the “silent killer.” What’s even more alarming is that only about 42% of us with the condition have been diagnosed and treated. And for Americans, the condition is on the rise (no pun intended).
In a blood pressure reading, the systolic, or top number, indicates blood pressure against your artery walls during heartbeats. The diastolic reading, or bottom number, measures blood pressure against your artery walls between heartbeats.
The ideal blood pressure is between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg. However, more than 122 million people over 20 have high blood pressure—130/80mmHg and higher. And 46% of people with the condition don’t even know they have it.
We don’t want to stress you out—because that’s bad for your numbers—but, over time, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease and stroke.
There are some common risk factors for hypertension, such as being overweight or obese, genetics, a high-salt diet, older age, overusing alcohol and physical inactivity. However, it’s important to know that symptoms can present differently in women than in men, if they present at all.
For instance, women might be fatigued and experience mental confusion or vision and breathing changes. Their risk factors also increase post-menopause. Men, on the other hand, could experience recurring headaches as a sign of high blood pressure.
People can lower their hypertension risks by maintaining a healthy weight, eating healthily, being physically active, drinking alcohol in moderation and kicking cigarettes to the curb. However, the smartest move is for people 40 and older to be screened annually so any problems can be detected and treated early on.
And don’t worry about how the blood pressure monitor looks when you check your numbers. As they said on Frasier, consider it “like the armbands gladiators wear in movies…except inflatable.”
