Hypertension is The Silent Killer: Here’s How to Understand & Manage It

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It increases the risk of severe health consequences like heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Because of its asymptomatic nature, it's known as the "silent killer." Let’s explore hypertension, its risks, and the importance of early detection with BIOS blood pressure monitors.

Understanding High Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood against the walls of your arteries. When the force is consistently too high, it puts a strain on your heart, blood vessels, and organs. Blood pressure readings are comprised of two numbers:

• Systolic pressure (top number): The pressure when your heart beats.
• Diastolic pressure (bottom number): The pressure when your heart rests between beats.

Elevated blood pressure damages tissues over time, potentially leading to serious complications.

Risks Associated with Hypertension

Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure (typically 135/85 mmHg or higher), affects nearly 1 in 3 adults worldwide. This condition significantly increases the risk of severe health problems. When blood pressure consistently exceeds 140/90 mmHg, the risk of heart attack and stroke rises dramatically. Hypertension can lead to weakened and narrowed arteries, reducing blood flow to vital organs.

This weakening or narrowing of the arteries can cause a heart attack. In the brain, it may result in a stroke. The kidneys' delicate blood vessels are particularly vulnerable, potentially leading to impaired waste filtration and kidney failure. Similarly, hypertension can damage the eyes' blood vessels, causing vision impairment or blindness. Regular monitoring and early intervention are important, as hypertension often develops silently over years before symptoms appear.

Importance of Early Detection

Since hypertension often lacks overt symptoms, regular blood pressure monitoring is vital for early detection. The earlier it's diagnosed, the sooner you can begin treatment and implement lifestyle changes to minimize the risk of complications. A blood pressure monitor should be used to detect high blood pressure before it becomes a major health risk.

Benefits of Using a Blood Pressure Monitor

• Self-Monitoring and Tracking: At-home blood pressure monitors empower you to track your numbers, giving you valuable insights into how your lifestyle or medications influence your blood pressure.
• Early Detection of Hypertension: Regular self-monitoring assists in identifying potential blood pressure fluctuations, prompting consultations with your healthcare provider.
• Improved Management with Healthcare Providers: Maintaining a log of your blood pressure readings provides crucial information to your healthcare providers, enabling them to make better treatment decisions.

Strategies for Preventing Hypertension or High Blood Pressure

Adopting a healthy lifestyle early on can significantly reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure. This should include maintaining a balanced diet low in sodium and rich in fruits and vegetables, engaging in regular physical activity, managing stress, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding tobacco use.

BIOS Blood Pressure Monitor Features for Hypertension Detection

BIOS blood pressure monitors prioritize accurate readings to help you gain a clear understanding of your blood pressure levels, and detect hypertension. All of these devices meet rigorous North American testing standards to ensure the readings BIOS customers get are accurate.

BIOS devices are designed with intuitive hypertension detection features that make them exceptionally user friendly. For example, let’s review how the blood pressure assessment indicator works to detect hypertension on the Easy Read Digital Blood Pressure Monitor (model number BD201)

How the blood pressure assessment indicator works

The bars on the left hand side of the display show you the range within which the indicated blood pressure values lie. Depending on the height of the bar, the readout value is either within the normal (green), borderline (yellow) or danger (red) range.

The classification is based on standards adopted by Hypertension Canada. The indicator bar rises according to your measurement.

• If your measurement has only one or two bars, your measurement is in the green zone, or “Normal”.
• If your measurement has three bars, it is in the yellow zone, or “High Normal”, in the pre-hypertensive range.
• If your measurement has four bars, it is in the red zone “High Blood Pressure with Self / Home Monitoring”.
• If your measurement has five bars, it is in the red zone or “Moderate to Severe Hypertension”.

BIOS Medical BD201 Easy Read Blood Pressure Monitor

Shop for Intuitive BIOS Blood Pressure Monitors Online

Translating technical blood pressure numbers into a colour coded system means you don’t have to be a medical professional to understand if you have high   pressure levels. BIOS Medical understands the urgency of managing hypertension, and has a range of intuitive BIOS blood pressure monitors in Canada available online. Take control of your cardiovascular health by implementing regular self-monitoring using BIOS Medical’s wide range of blood pressure units, available for sale at BIOSmedical.com.