According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 75 million people living in the United States are living with high blood pressure. Unfortunately, many Americans might not even realize they have it, as high blood pressure can occur without any symptoms.

Our team at AFC Urgent Care Pineville wants you to know what can cause high blood pressure, as well as ways you can help maintain a healthy blood pressure for years to come!

What Happens to Your Body When You Have High Blood Pressure?

When your blood pressure is high, you are putting yourself at an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and even dementia. High blood pressure can cause you to experience a number of symptoms, such as a severe headache, fatigue, vision problems, chest pain, irregular heartbeat and blood in your urine.

However, sometimes there are no signs of high blood pressure, which is why it is important to have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis.

Causes of High Blood Pressure

• Smoking
• Stress
• Older age
• Genetics
• Being overweight or obese
• Lack of physical activity
• Too much salt in the diet
• Too much alcohol consumption

What Is Considered High Blood Pressure?

Healthy blood pressure is defined as less than ¹²⁰⁄₈₀ mmHg. If your blood pressure is between 120–129/80 mmHg, it is considered elevated.

If your blood pressure is higher than that, it’s considered high and your doctor will recommend ways to lower it.

Ways to Prevent High Blood Pressure

• Limit alcohol consumption.
• Don’t smoke.
• Manage stress levels.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Get regular exercise.
• Maintain a healthy weight.

Our mission at AFC Urgent Care Pineville is to provide affordable, high-quality health care to those in our community!