JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects one in three American adults, or about 75 million people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Often called the “silent killer,” it is a condition that shows no early symptoms but can lead to catastrophic outcomes such as heart attack, stroke and death.
It is also a common diagnosis at the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Medical Clinic, which is highlighting the need for its patients to control their blood pressure and take other heart-healthy measures during American Heart Month in February with a display in the waiting area of the family health clinic.
In addition, the 359th Medical Group’s health promotions team will set up tables at the JBSA-Randolph Exchange and Commissary with information and outreach to patients.
“Hypertension is a very prevalent diagnosis at the clinic, second only to high cholesterol,” said Maj. (Dr.) Jessica-Renee Gamboa, 359th Medical Operations Squadron staff physician. “It is more common in our age 40-and-above patients, especially retirees, but we also have younger active-duty members who are affected by it.”
Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries; it is measured in millimeters of mercury. The first number in a blood pressure reading is the systolic pressure, the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats, and the second number is the diastolic pressure, the pressure in the arteries between heart beats.
The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology changed their guidelines in 2017, defining normal blood pressure as less than 120/80, prehypertension as 120-129/80 and hypertension as anything above 129/80, Gamboa said, but there is a difference of opinion in the medical community.
“Not all medical societies agree with those guidelines, especially for hypertension,” she said. “Others set hypertension readings at 140/90 and above.”
High blood pressure is often not reported, but there is a reason for that, Gamboa said.
“Because there are often no symptoms associated with it, people just don’t know they have it,” she said. “The CDC reports that one in five adults with hypertension do not know they have it.”
That is why it is so important for people to have their blood pressure checked – or check it themselves – on a regular basis, Gamboa said.
“Starting at age 18, you should have your blood pressure checked during your annual visit with a primary care provider,” she said. “If your reading is above normal, it should be checked every six months.”
High blood pressure puts people at risk for a number of diseases and other adverse outcomes, Gamboa said.
“High blood pressure can lead to enlargement of the heart, which is not healthy,” she said. “It can also lead to heart failure, heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, changes in the eye and bleeding in the brain.”
There are two types of hypertension – primary and secondary, Gamboa said.
“Primary hypertension is caused by risk factors such as smoking, obesity, age, physical condition, race, alcohol use and dietary choices, especially a diet high in sodium,” she said. “Secondary is caused by something else, such as sleep apnea, thyroid disease and medications.”
Medication is often prescribed when a patient’s blood pressure reaches 140/90 and above, but lifestyle changes can also control and prevent hypertension.
“People can increase their activity level by engaging in moderate-intensity exercise three or four times a week, 30 to 40 minutes at a time,” Gamboa said. “Other ways to control blood pressure are cutting down on alcohol use, giving up smoking and making dietary changes, such as decreasing the amount of fat, red meat, salt and sugar in your diet.”
A primary care provider may recommend lifestyle changes for a few months prior to prescribing medication if a person is diagnosed with prehypertension, especially if that person is sufficiently motivated, she said.