When thinking of a person with a specific medical condition, we tend to have a picture in our heads, often more stereotypical than we’d care to admit. For instance, you can probably immediately draw a mental image of somebody who has depression or someone with arthritis. And just as those images are capable of being completely wide of the mark, so we tend to picture the kind of person who might have high blood pressure – also known as hypertension – and be utterly wrong about that, too.
The truth is that anyone can experience high blood pressure for a range of reasons, including, but not limited to, stress, diet, poor sleep, underlying health conditions, and the use of drugs (legal or otherwise). It is beneficial to recognize this and consider the implications. Therefore, it is a good idea to answer some questions about hypertension.
How do I know if I have high blood pressure?
The truth is, you might not. It causes headaches, shortness of breath, or nosebleeds in some people. Sometimes, you’ll feel lightheaded. But you’ve probably already clocked that these are things that can happen for a lot of reasons, most of which are more likely than hypertension. A general feeling of unwellness can be the first sign and might be the spur to see your doctor or to check your BP with a home monitoring device.
How is it treated?
The key to treating high blood pressure is understanding what is causing it, which can be for several reasons. Treating the cause will usually resolve the symptom, but there may also be a case for prescribing medication if the cause is more complex. There are some side effects from blood pressure medication, which can include excess hair growth or tiredness, but it is always better to book laser hair removal sessions or cut back on your calendar than let a health issue go unchecked. The implications of long-term hypertension are more unpleasant than any side effect.
What might I be doing that is causing this?
There is a tendency to think that a health issue has to be caused by something, and we humans are unfortunately driven to blame our own choices for conditions like hypertension, which are often viewed as “lifestyle conditions.” Drinking too much and poor dietary habits can indeed aggravate the issue, but it is at least as standard for the cause to be stress or an underlying condition. So, if you have habits that may be making the issue worse, by all means, stop them; that’s a choice you should probably make anyway. But bear in mind that you may not be doing anything wrong and still have the issue, so it’s always worth speaking to a doctor.
Studies have indicated that as many as one in three people likely have hypertension, with at least half of those currently undiagnosed. So remember that you’re not alone; it’s treatable, and you have time to improve it.
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