High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, which is why many people don’t know they have it. According to the CDC, the only way to detect it is by regularly measuring your blood pressure. The same goes for high cholesterol – it is only revealed by tests ordered by a doctor. Both problems increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Blood pressure measured only occasionally – at a pharmacy, during a work physical, or during a visit for an entirely different reason – is easy to overlook when the result is “a little too high.” Meanwhile, before anything hurts, hypertension can strain your heart, brain, and kidneys for years.
A disease without warning signs
Most health issues make themselves known through pain, fever, or fatigue. Hypertension is different. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state outright that high blood pressure usually has no symptoms, so many people are unaware of their condition. The only way to check for it is through regular measurement, the agency reminds us in its materials on high blood pressure.
The consequences can be serious. According to the CDC, high blood pressure can harm the heart, brain, and kidneys, and is linked to cardiovascular disease, stroke, and chronic kidney disease, among other conditions. The agency considers a blood pressure reading below 120/80 mm Hg to be normal, and defines hypertension when readings consistently are: systolic of at least 130 or diastolic of at least 80 mm Hg.
Feeling fine doesn’t settle much here. Someone who has done physical labor for ten hours a day for years has every right to feel strong – and often they are. However, muscle endurance and the condition of blood vessels are two different things.
A single measurement is not enough
Blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day. Therefore – as the CDC explains – a doctor may take several measurements across more than one visit, and sometimes also recommends home monitoring to help confirm a diagnosis. A single reading from a pharmacy, taken in a rush or right after coffee, is a sign for further monitoring, not a diagnosis.
When measuring at home, the agency advises, among other things, not to smoke, drink coffee or alcohol, or exercise for 30 minutes beforehand, and to sit quietly for at least 5 minutes with your back supported and feet flat on the floor before taking the reading. The cuff should be placed on a bare arm, the measurement repeated at least twice 1–2 minutes apart, and the results recorded in a log. A complete list of tips can be found in the CDC’s blood pressure measurement guide.
It is similar with cholesterol. The CDC emphasizes that the only way to check if your cholesterol is high is through a test ordered by a doctor – a lipid panel, which typically includes cholesterol and triglycerides. High cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, and the frequency of testing should be discussed with your doctor (CDC on cholesterol).
What this means for the Polish community
It sometimes happens that the first blood pressure reading in years occurs by chance: during a work physical, an immigration exam, or a visit for a cold. This is a good time not to stop at just one result. Hypertension and high cholesterol can be monitored and treated by a doctor, and early detection provides time to calmly plan further care.
When treating a condition you cannot see, understanding is key: why take medications if nothing hurts, and what subsequent results mean. Such questions are easier to ask in your native language. Cardiology consultations, including the treatment of hypertension and high cholesterol, are provided at the Maspeth and Grand Avenue Clinic by Dr. Adam S. Budzikowski, a cardiologist and internist. The scope of care is presented on the Cardiology at the Maspeth Clinic page, contact details and office hours can be found on the clinic’s listing in the PolishPages directory, and appointments can be scheduled by calling 929-252-9330.
A home blood pressure monitor does not replace emergency help. The CDC recommends calling 911 immediately in the event of a sudden, severe headache with no known cause, sudden vision or speech disturbances, numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body) (stroke symptoms), as well as heart attack symptoms such as chest pain or pressure and shortness of breath (heart attack symptoms).
This article is for informational purposes only – it is general information, not medical advice, and does not replace a doctor’s visit. Consult a physician regarding individual health matters.
