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7/ TheBucknerClarion.com October 9, 2014 Ask A Nurse Why Worry About High Blood Pressure? It's a term used widely but what is hypertension or high blood pressure? Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common condition that will catch up with most people who live into older age. Blood pressure is the force of blood pressing against the walls of the arteries. When it's too high, it raises the heart's workload and can cause serious damage to the arteries. Over time, uncontrolled high blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. Blood pressure is measured by two numbers. The upper reading, known as the systolic pressure, measures that force as the heart contracts and pushes blood out of its chambers. The lower reading, known as diastolic pressure, measures that force as the heart relaxes between contractions. Adult blood pressure is considered normal if it is less than 140/90. What are the dangers of high blood pressure? One of the most dangerous aspects of hypertension is that you may not know that you have it. In fact, nearly one-third of people who have high blood pressure don't know it. The only way to know if your blood pressure is high is through regular checkups. This is especially important if you have a close relative who has high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is extremely high, there may be certain symptoms to look out for, including: ● Severe headache ● Fatigue or confusion ● Vision problems ● Chest pain ● Difficulty breathing ● Irregular heartbeat ● Blood in the urine ● Pounding in your chest, neck, or ears If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor immediately. You could be having a hypertensive crisis that could lead to a heart attack or stroke. There are things that you can do to lower your blood pressure. We'll explain what they are in our next column. If you have a health question you'd like answered in this column, contact Tina Moore, APRN, FNP-C, at our Lexington office by email at tmoore@rodgershealth.org. "Healthy People in a Healthy Community" Pharmacy & Your Health Management of Metabolic Syndrome Metabolic syndrome is a condition that generally refers to a person's unhealthy lifestyle choices that may lead to serious complications or development of life-threatening conditions. Excess body fat, high blood sugar readings, and high blood pressure may lead to conditions such as heart disease and diabetes which can affect someone's health for the rest of his or her life. Obesity caused from physical inactivity is the primary symptom that leads to insulin resistance, a condition that usually comes before diabetes. Symptoms of insulin resistance include feeling thirsty, frequent need to urinate, and blurry vision. Those in an older age group and ethnicities that belong to the Hispanic or Asian groups tend to have a higher risk of metabolic syndrome. The best treatment option for metabolic syndrome is a healthier lifestyle. Adopting the American Heart Association's DASH diet may help with weight loss that may reduce the chances of getting this condition. This diet emphasizes the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and fish and whole grains with low salt. Some medications may be prescribed to help with weight loss. Metformin (Glucophage) is a medication that may help reduce blood sugars with insulin resistance and lose weight. It helps lower blood sugars by acting on the liver. Tina Moore, APRN, FNP-C Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center Lafayette Family Medicine, Dental & WIC Services 811-A South Hwy 13, Lexington Mo. - 660.259.3823 www.rodgershealth.org