WHAT IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?
Patients with high blood pressure often deal with a condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is high enough that it can produce health problems, including heart disease or coronary artery disease. High blood pressure is also found to be linked to your oral health. The team at Gentle Dentistry in Tampa, Florida, is here to help you understand this connection between high blood pressure and oral health.
Blood pressure levels are determined by how much blood your heart can pump and blood flow resistance through the arteries.
- Along with injuring blood vessels, hypertension can cause damage to the brain, eyes, and kidneys
- High blood pressure that has no identifiable cause is typically known as primary hypertension or even essential hypertension, and it typically gradually develops over time
- Hypertension is a major cause of heart attacks and the leading cause of strokes
- In the majority of patients who are diagnosed with high blood pressure, the cause is not identifiable
- In the United States alone, over 30% of American adults have high blood pressure
- Normal blood pressure levels rise steadily from approximately 90/60 at birth to around 120/80 in a healthy adult
- Some people have high blood pressure that can result from underlying medical conditions known as secondary hypertension
- There are several types of medication and unique medical conditions that can cause secondary hypertension
WHAT ARE THE COMMON SYMPTOMS OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?
- Obvious symptoms sometimes do not occur until readings are at dangerously high levels, with a systolic of 180 or more OR diastolic of 110 or more
- High blood pressure is often known as and referred to as the “silent killer” since it is typically a condition that does not have noticeable symptoms until blood pressure levels are dangerously high
With severely high blood pressure readings, an individual in a hypertensive crisis might experience:
- Nosebleeds
- Severe anxiety
- Severe headaches
- Shortness of breath
TREATMENT OPTIONS:
- Avoid tobacco, including smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco
- Comply with all medication prescriptions as ordered by your doctor(s)
- Enjoy a better diet with a reduction in salt
- Enjoy regular physical activities, at least 30 minutes a day
- Limit your consumption of alcohol
- Maintain a healthy weight for your height and body frame
- Manage your stress appropriately to reduce the risk of higher blood pressure
HOW IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE RELATED TO YOUR ORAL HEALTH?
Hypertension is associated with inflammation which can be connected to periodontal disease and the inflammation present in the mouth. It is believed that this same inflammation can increase the risk of conditions such as heart attacks and strokes. Patients with high blood pressure may be at a higher risk of gum disease, and those with gum disease may be at a higher risk of high blood pressure.
To learn more about this connection, call (813) 734-7102 to schedule your consultation at Gentle Dentistry.
