The Silent Killer

As part of working in a rehab setting I’m required to go for physicals.

During my last physical as the doctor placed the blood pressure cuff around my arm I knew what he was going to say. The room was so quiet and I could hear my heart pounding away. It was like it was trying to escape the inevitable news.

As he ripped the velcro cuff off of my arm he said, “Well, your blood pressure is a little high.”

Yes, even though I exercise daily, eat fresh fruits and vegetables and avoid the salt shaker. Even my friends joke whenever there is cake, fried food, salty food or other artery clogging delectable treat around since they know I stay away and not even peer pressure can make me take a tiny bite. Many call me crazy for going to the gym and exercising as much as I do.

He reviewed my blood work and was very pleased but that pesky blood pressure was high.

Many people set health related goals for themselves during the year. Here are some common goals that people set:
1. Loss 10 pounds
2. Fit into my bathing suit
3. Eat healthier foods
4. Join the gym
5. Walk every day for 30 minutes
6. Tone up

While these are all great goals for health and wellness I want to add one to that list for you to consider.
7. Get a checkup at my physician’s office and from my Physical Therapist.

Many health related goals are observable. We can see that layer of fat that needs to be dropped. We can see the flabby arms or legs that need to be toned up. However, it is the silent health issue that deserves even greater consideration and attention.

I’m a perfect example of the fact that even eating squeaky clean, exercising daily, drinking lots of water, getting adequate sleep, staying stress free (as much as I can being in grad school ) , staying away from cigarettes and having an occasional glass of wine (these are all called “modifiable risk factors”) does not prevent me from getting high blood pressure.

There was one big reason for this high blood pressure and that is my family history. With grandparents on both sides, my mom, my dad and my brother all on medication for high blood pressure it was not a surprise for me to develop it as well.

So as the doctor wrote my prescription for my new medication I thought a good article on what high blood pressure is would be a good lesson for many. Remember, when you have high blood pressure you don’t feel any different but it is a serious medical condition and needs to be addressed.

So, what is blood pressure anyway?

Blood pressure is exactly what it sounds like. It is the force or pressure of the blood on vessel walls. When the heart contracts it forces blood into the vessels of the body. This contraction of the heart and resulting pressure on the vessel walls is called systolic pressure or systole. When the heart completes this contraction and is at rest the pressure on the vessel walls is called diastolic pressure or diastole.

When a medical professional takes your blood pressure they record it as systolic pressure over diastolic pressure.

The following chart is from the US Department of Health and Human Services http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

So, why is high blood pressure bad?

Have you ever had an old garden hose or maybe an old washing machine hose that begins to swell. This is caused by the constant pressure on the hose. Over time the hose begins to weaken. The vessels in your body are very much like a garden hose. Too much pressure of the blood pushing on the vessel walls over time causes them to weaken.

Another possible problem is the increased work of the heart to pump the blood in your body. Because the heart has to work extra hard to pump the blood in your body it can take a toll on this muscle.

High blood pressure leads to significant medical problems but usually goes undetected for many years. That is why many call it the “silent killer”. To learn more information you can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website http://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/

So, I started my medicine last night. The great thing is blood pressure medication has come so far that there are many choices, many have been out for so long that they are in the generic form and there are little side effects. Your doctor can help you determine the right choice for your body.

I hope this gave you some insight into this so called “silent killer” Did you know that Physical Therapists can take your blood pressure as well? Physical Therapy school is a graduate level program with graduates earning a masters or doctorate level degree. A great new years resolution for yourself is to schedule a musculoskeletal screening from a Physical Therapist as well as have them check your blood pressure.

Until next time.

Be well,

Matthew Laporte

http://www.YourGuideToWellness.com

Matt@YourGuideToWellness.com

Tagged as: blood pressure, heart, hypertension