Hypertension affects 1 in 5 Americans, according to the Cleveland Clinic, and is a huge risk factor for heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. Understanding as much as possible about the signs of Stage 1 hypertension may help people take action to reduce their blood pressure to normal and healthy levels.
Definition
Doctors classify patients as having stage 1 hypertension when their systolic readings are between 140 and 159, and their diastolic readings are between 90 and 99. Systolic readings are a measurement of artery pressure when the heart beats, while diastolic readings are a measurement of the pressure between beats when the heart is resting. Doctors consider normal blood pressure to be anything less than 120/80.
Lifestyle Modifications
Medical professionals usually prescribe lifestyle modifications as a first step toward lowering blood pressure. According to the Cleveland Clinic, achieving a normal body weight with a body mass index between 18 and 24 can reduce blood pressure readings by five to 20 points. Furthermore, a heart healthy diet can lower it between eight and 14 points, sodium restrictions two to eight, and daily exercise that lasts for 30 minutes almost every day can lower it between four and nine. Women and underweight men who drink less than one alcoholic beverage a day, and men who drink no more than two drinks a day can lower their blood pressure readings by an additional two to four points.
Medications
Doctors often prescribe stage 1 patients a diuretic or water pill to flush excess water and sodium in an attempt to lower blood pressure. According to the MayoClinic.com, thiazide is the diuretic of first choice because it has fewer side effects than the other two types available for use and offers protection against stroke and heart failure.
Sometimes doctors prescribe a second medication to bring the blood pressure down more quickly, which may be necessary when a patient has a secondary condition like chronic kidney disease or diabetes. Blood pressure medications options include Angiotensin-converting enzyme or ACE inhibitors to relax and widen blood vessels, beta blockers to reduce nerve signals sent to the heart and blood vessels, and calcium channel blockers to prevent calcium from reaching the heart and blood vessel muscle cells.
Considerations
According to the National Lung, Heart and Blood Institutes Diseases and Conditions Index, high blood pressure usually has no symptoms. Instead, it silently damages the heart, blood vessels, kidneys and other parts of the body. The only way to diagnose hypertension is to measure blood pressure.
Symptom Myths
When people are angry or anxious, some go red in the face, tense up and feel their heart pounding. According to LifeClinic.com, while these emotions may cause blood pressure to spike, they are mistakenly associated with hypertension. A true test of high blood pressure, and the one of concern, is blood pressure readings that remain high when a person is not angry or tense.
