Based on analysis of web traffic, the most common questions that people ask about hypertension are:
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What is the main cause of hypertension?
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What are the four stages of hypertension?
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What are the warning signs of hypertension?
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What happens when you have hypertension?
As a quick aside, the “top pick” on WebMD when you search that site for “hypertension” addresses none of these questions. Instead it is “Men: Is Hypertension Ruining Your Sex Life?” Clickbait. On WebMD’s hypertension guide, there are dozens of ads with the majority of them for drugs, from Lisinopril to Tylenol. The guide starts by auto-playing a video with the statement, “The only way to know if your blood pressure is high is through regular checkups” which, as you’ll learn on Health Hippo, is not correct. In fact, did you know the best way to manage your cardiovascular health is by learning to take your own blood pressure? You'll learn how to do so, and why, on Health Hippo.
First, though, let’s get to some brief answers to these common questions, all of which are further detailed here.
What is the main cause of hypertension?
Risk factors have been strongly and independently identified including age, obesity, and family history.
What are the four stages of hypertension?
While there are many medical associations that provide guidelines about hypertension stages, physicians most commonly identify only two stages of hypertension (Hypertension Stage 1 and Hypertension Stage 2). The assignment of the appropriate stage rests entirely on an accurate and repeated measurement of two numbers: systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Systolic pressure is when heart muscles are contracting (and is the higher of the two numbers) and diastolic pressure is when the heart is refilling with blood (and is the lower of the two numbers).
What are the warning signs of hypertension?
Hypertension is identified by measuring your blood pressure. It is known as the “silent killer” because it typically has no symptoms and is a common condition that can impact anyone regardless of age, gender, or race.
What happens when you have hypertension?
Hypertension, left untreated, puts you at a high risk of premature cardiovascular disease. The good news, however, is that hypertension can be well-managed; once identified, it is a highly addressable health issue.
So, there you have it. Your most common questions answered, correctly.
And, learn how to take your own blood pressure, since it's the best way to manage your cardiovascular health. Take 10 minutes right now and learn why that is so, along with all of our straight to-the-point complete information about hypertension's diagnosis, causes, treatment, and what to expect, right here.