When should I call my doctor if I have chronic hypertension?

Managing high blood pressure requires an understanding of why blood pressure is important, what your normal range should be, and knowledge of specific lifestyle changes that may be necessary to ensure your success in managing your disease.

Blood pressure is the force of blood pumped from the heart to the arteries throughout the body. This is called the systolic pressure (the top number of the blood pressure reading). The second force is when the heart rests between beats. This is called the diastolic pressure (the bottom number of the blood pressure reading). The top or systolic number is the higher of the two numbers.

The American Heart Association's guidelines for normal blood pressure is the systolic (top number) less than 120 and the diastolic (bottom number) less than 80. High blood pressure is a systolic range of 140 - 159 and a diastolic range of 90 - 99.

If you are 20 years or older, you should have your blood pressure screened at each provider visit or annual wellness visit. This preventive approach is the best way to identify changes in your blood pressure over time. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, talk to your healthcare provider about what times would work best for you to measure and record your blood pressure between visits. This will assist your provider in identifying the best approach to treatment during your visit. Create alarms or reminders that help you remember to take any blood pressure medication prescribed by your provider. It is also important to discuss with your provider the administration or dosing times that work best for you so that you are more successful with medication adherence. It is recommended to use the assistance of a dietician or nutritionist to assist you with food planning that limits salt intake while maintaining cultural or ethnic traditions. Finally, make exercising a part of your lifestyle so that your routine does not interfere with other competing demands.

If you find you are still challenged with managing your blood pressure at healthy levels, take time to visit with your provider to discuss additional medications options, modifications, and a specific plan to help you decide when it is necessary to contact the office or seek emergency care.

The best approach to managing chronic hypertension is a proactive one. These tips can help you manage hypertension so that it doesn't manage you.