{"id":24551,"date":"2023-02-16T07:00:08","date_gmt":"2023-02-16T07:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=24551"},"modified":"2024-11-23T00:58:25","modified_gmt":"2024-11-23T00:58:25","slug":"heart-month-hypertension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/updates-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/heart-month-hypertension\/","title":{"rendered":"Heart health: Small changes have big impacts","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

Sometimes it\u2019s genetic. Other times it\u2019s our diet. On occasion, it\u2019s situational, such as the anxiety of sitting in a dentist\u2019s chair.<\/p>\n

The good news: High blood pressure (HBP) is preventable \u2014 and in its more advanced stage of hypertension, even treatable.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople don\u2019t often think much of having HBP or untreated hypertension and what the long-term effects are,\u201d says Samantha Gallegos, FNP, CVNP, ARNP<\/a>, with MultiCare\u2019s Pulse Heart Institute in Spokane<\/a>. \u201cIt can cause problems with kidneys, stroke, heart attack, circulatory issues or heart failure.\u201d<\/p>\n

While such complications don\u2019t occur right away, she says, they\u2019re all a risk when HBP is left untreated. That\u2019s why she stresses prevention as the key to heart health.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always easier to say \u2018I\u2019ll start tomorrow\u2019 and put your needs on hold,\u201d Gallegos says. \u201cBut we often see where [a patient\u2019s] condition could have been intervened on earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ultimately, lifestyle choices are your decision, she says. But it\u2019s important to be educated and realistic in your decision making.<\/p>\n

Know the difference between high blood pressure & hypertension \u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Knowing the difference between a moment of HBP versus hypertension can be tricky, as the symptoms may not always be clear or even present. Some are obvious, while others seem like nothing out of the ordinary.<\/p>\n

HBP alone can be situational, while hypertension is a health diagnosis, such as diabetes or coronary artery disease, Gallegos says. For those with no prior history of HBP or a hypertension diagnosis, symptoms may seem very nonspecific. At times, they may resemble the aches and changes one expects with aging.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re young, sometimes a headache really is just a headache,\u201d Gallegos says.<\/p>\n

If a patient in their 20s or 30s was experiencing HBP \u2014 and didn\u2019t have any other medical conditions \u2014 she would recommend taking three separate readings in different environments to determine whether it was situational. If it was high across multiple readings, that\u2019s the time to dig deeper and address it appropriately.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut oftentimes, it\u2019s diagnosed when a patient comes in with a specific problem, like chest pain, palpitations or feeling dizzy or lightheaded,\u201d she says. \u201cA bunch of things you wouldn\u2019t necessarily think is HBP or hypertension.\u201d<\/p>\n

A situational elevated blood pressure reading could be due to nerves, too many energy drinks, a current medication or simply the overall stress of the past few years.<\/p>\n

For those living with other medical conditions, such as diabetes or high cholesterol, HBP is something to keep an eye on. And genetics plays a role, too.<\/p>\n

Some of the more common symptoms of hypertension include headaches, shortness of breath or nosebleeds. But because not everyone will experience symptoms, it\u2019s important to check your heart numbers and know what they mean<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Blood pressure is checked during clinic visits or hospital intake, which for most patients is often enough. If you\u2019ve noticed elevated numbers or are currently being treated for hypertension, though, more regular monitoring may be recommended by your provider.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t need to be hyper obsessive,\u201d Gallegos says for patients without a history or symptoms of HBP. \u201cNowadays, there are blood pressure machines in stores, and while they\u2019re not the most tried and true, the point is if you can check it, do so. And if you notice elevation, it can alert you to start paying attention and schedule a visit with your primary care provider.\u201d<\/p>\n

The biggest thing is being aware, she reiterates.<\/p>\n

Small changes add up<\/h2>\n

When a patient receives a hypertension diagnosis, Gallegos says their first reaction is often fear of being on medication the rest of their lives. And while she can\u2019t make guarantees, with some lifestyle changes there\u2019s a good chance for many that they won\u2019t have to be.<\/p>\n

\u201cNinety-eight percent of the time, they will not say they\u2019re the epitome of health,\u201d she says. \u201cHow much alcohol are you consuming? Stop smoking, maybe not so much coffee in a day.\u201d<\/p>\n

American Heart Month is a great time to reflect on what we\u2019re doing to care for our body, especially our heart.<\/p>\n

Hypertension is treatable and controllable, but must be taken seriously, Gallegos says. For many patients, she says, it\u2019s easier to think it\u2019s not \u201cthat serious\u201d or deny something might be wrong.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not different than what we all do with anything in our life,\u201d she says. \u201cThat\u2019s where it\u2019s our job as your provider to talk about the things we can do and what might be contributing.\u201d<\/p>\n

When you take the time to sit down with your doctor or other health care provider, you may find there are several contributing factors within your control. Change doesn\u2019t have to be all at once, she adds.<\/p>\n

\u201cStart with a small step like not adding extra salt to dinner. Try to cook more rather than prepackaged [meals], or go for a quick walk. You don\u2019t have to go to the gym every day,\u201d Gallegos explains. \u201cSmall changes can have big impacts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those small habits add up, especially for those genetically predisposed to encountering high blood pressure.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sometimes it\u2019s genetic. Other times it\u2019s our diet. On occasion, it\u2019s situational, such as the anxiety of sitting in a dentist\u2019s chair. The good news: High blood pressure (HBP) is preventable \u2014 and in its more advanced stage of hypertension, even treatable. \u201cPeople don\u2019t often think much of having HBP or untreated hypertension and what […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":115,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[127,63,87,99,107],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-healthy-living","category-heart-health","category-nutrition-wellness","category-primary-care","category-stroke-neuro"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHeart health: Small changes have big impacts - MultiCare Vitals<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"High blood pressure (HBP) and hypertension are both preventable. 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