Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is often referred to as the ‘silent killer,’ as it usually doesn’t cause any symptoms until a catastrophe happens such as a heart attack. The goal of treating your blood pressure is to lower it, to decrease the chance of a heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure in the future.
The current goal is to have your blood pressure consistently below 140/90, and if you have had a heart attack or are diabetic, to have it below 130/80. 120/80 is the optimal blood pressure for everyone and is associated with the lowest incidents of events. As with most treatments you should monitor your response to therapy.
There are now easy-to-use home blood pressure cuffs that can be purchased for under $100; we offer these at a modest price. Isolated blood pressure readings in the doctor’s office may be misleadingly high, and home readings over a period of time are more reliable.