Could I Have High Blood Pressure and Not Know It?

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure (HBP), has another, not-so-clinical name: the silent killer. Unlike many other cardiovascular diseases and conditions, HBP tends to be symptom-free. That means you could be walking around with a time bomb and not even know it.

Blood pressure refers to the amount of stress your blood places on your blood vessels when it circulates through your body. Over time, extreme pressure damages your arteries and your organs, which could lead to sudden death or to a dreaded disease, such as dementia. In more benign forms, HBP can cause erectile dysfunction (ED) in men, among other conditions.

Approximately half of women and men in the United States have HBP. Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the US. In 2022, HBP caused or contributed to 685,000 deaths. Only about half of those with high HBP have it under control. 

At Gorman Medical, PC, our medical experts, Charles Ripp, MD, and Fran Gorman, DNP, encourage you to get an annual physical. During this simple exam, we take your blood pressure to determine if it’s healthy or not. If you do have HBP, we offer chronic care at our offices in Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek, Colorado, to help keep you healthy and safe.

Could you have HBP? Here’s why you could, without even knowing it.

How can I measure my blood pressure?

Unlike your heart rate, you can’t determine your blood pressure by feeling your pulse. The only way to obtain an accurate measurement of how much force is being exerted on your blood vessels is through a blood pressure test.

If you’ve ever been to the doctor, you’ve undoubtedly had your blood pressure tested. Your provider places a cuff on your arm. They inflate the cuff, then release the pressure. 

They either listen to your pulse with a stethoscope as your blood begins to flow again, or use a digital device to measure two important parameters: diastolic and systolic pressure. Systolic pressure refers to the amount of pressure that’s in your arteries when your heart beats. Diastolic pressure refers to the amount of pressure that’s in your arteries between heartbeats.

What your blood pressure reading means

Your blood pressure reading is represented by the systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure. For example, if your blood pressure is 119/70 mmHg, that means your systolic pressure is 119 and your diastolic pressure is 70.

The numbers break down like this: 

• Normal: less than 120/80 
• Prehypertension: 120/80 to 139/89
• Stage 1 hypertension: 140/90 to 159/99
• Stage 2 hypertension: 160/100 or higher
• Hypertensive crisis: 180/120 or higher

If you measure your own blood pressure and find that you’re in hypertensive crisis, call 911 right away. You could be in danger of organ damage or death.

What happens if you don’t control blood pressure

Hypertension is a stealth killer. If you don’t find it in time and begin lifestyle changes and medications to bring it down, you’re at risk for multiple complications in virtually every organ system.

Brain

• Stroke
• Transient ischemic stroke (TIA)
• Mild cognitive impairment
• Dementia

Cardiovascular system

• Aneurysms
• Atherosclerosis
• Heart attack
• Heart failure

Kidneys

• Kidney failure
• Kidney scarring
• Renal artery aneurysm

Eyes

• Retinopathy
• Choroidopathy
• Optic neuropathy

The good news among all this scary and not-so-good news is that once you know you have HBP, you can take steps to reverse it or manage it.

How to deal with hypertension

If you have HBP, you need chronic care from a physician to ensure that your heart and blood vessels stay healthy. We may prescribe medications to lower your blood pressure and take the stress off your vessels so blood can flow more freely. We also recommend lifestyle changes, such as:

• Quitting smoking and recreational drugs
• Quitting alcohol
• Avoiding sugar and high-fructose corn syrup
• Avoiding processed meats and junk food
• Cutting down on sodium

We recommend adopting a healthy diet for life, which includes piling your plate high with a rainbow of vegetables as well as some fruits. Be sure to eat plenty of healthy protein and the right fats, too. Use the “My Plate” plan as a guide.

Are you due for an annual exam or blood pressure test? Call our nearest office or use the online form to schedule an appointment today.