It will soon be 12 years since I suffered a heart attack and underwent emergency surgery. Although I'm doing well now, many people were surprised at the time - I had seemingly healthy parents who were in their mid-80s, I wasn't overweight, and had never smoked. Yet, what I hadn't done (even though I'm a physician) is pay enough attention to my blood pressure, and it was consistently too high.
More than 70 million Americans and nearly 500,000 West Virginians now have hypertension (the medical term for high blood pressure). In fact, in the last decade, the number of hypertension-related deaths in the U.S. increased by 66 percent. When you weigh too much or smoke, it's quite apparent to you and your family, but that's not the case with an elevated blood pressure. It is estimated that at least 20 percent of those affected don't know it and many more simply ignore it, primarily because they have no symptoms. Realistically, it causes just as much harm as diabetes, but gets much less attention.
Because the number of West Virginians with health insurance has greatly increased, it's now much more likely that they can easily have their blood pressure checked. Yet, even if you don't have insurance or a doctor, you can still have it done at the health department or by using an inexpensive device at home. Remember, though, that a single measurement is not enough. It should be taken at different times of the day, which is easier when you measure it yourself, and there should be some consistency before assuming what the true level is.
Although some recent studies have again raised the question about just what constitutes high blood pressure, a good rule of thumb is that it should be treated if it is above 140/90 or, if you are 60 or over, 150/90.
Looking back, even though I did have a family history, I thought I felt fine, was just too busy, and simply overlooked the results of this easily performed health assessment. My behavior since then has definitely changed.
If your blood pressure is just a little above normal, then exercising, relieving stress, or losing a few pounds may be enough, but today we are fortunate to have many safe and effective blood pressure-lowering drug options, most of which are inexpensive. You need a health care provider to have these prescribed, but if you do not have insurance, in Charleston you can always go to HealthRight or the WVU Clinics and they will find an appropriate medication you can afford. Then it is up to you to obtain the medicine and take it as directed.
It's easy to be overwhelmed by trying to understand some of the conflicting recommendations about the mechanics of taking a blood pressure, how high it has to be to cause concern, and which medications will work best. It's safe to say that worrying about all this will itself raise your blood pressure.
You're better off just trying to make it as simple as possible. First, get a reading that you trust. Then, if it stays high, work on making the appropriate lifestyle changes and, if necessary, have a prescription filled for the suggested medicine. Finally, be diligent about taking it. Speaking from experience, not only will you feel better than before, but you will also dramatically reduce your risk of a heart attack and stroke. Believe me, your family will appreciate it as well.
Dan Foster is a Charleston surgeon, former state senator and a Gazette contributing columnist.