High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure Treatment
Overview
High blood pressure (or hypertension) involves blood placing large amounts of stress on artery walls by pressing abnormally hard against them. The risk of high BP increases with age, but is now common in young men as well.
Signs of high BP can go hidden for years, but this isn’t a condition to ignore. Not only can it fly a red flag for more serious health problems, high BP on its own affects vital organs such as the heart, kidneys, eyes, and is linked to serious and deadly health problems, such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and dementia.
Who needs to be treated?
All adult men under 40 should have their BP tested biannually. Men 40+, or any man with a family history of high BP, should be tested annually. But men with these symptoms should be tested for high BP right away:
- Headache
- Blood pounding in ears, chest, or neck
- Irregular or rapid heartbeat
- Erectile dysfunction
- Sleep apnea / snoring
- Headache
- Confusion or feeling “out of it”
- Chest pain
What are risk factors for high BP?
In a high-stress society with many sedentary jobs, high BP is common and no respecter of age. Elevating risk factors include:
- Obesity
- Stress
- Alcohol / tobacco consumption
- Sedentary lifestyle / little exercise
- High salt diet
- High levels of anger
- Thyroid or kidney problems
- Drugs (legal or illegal) that affect the heart
- Genetics
- Other health conditions