The silent killer: New guidelines for managing high blood pressure

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology have released the first major update to high blood pressure management guidelines since 2017.

Hypertension remains one of the leading causes of heart disease and stroke in the U.S.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can cause symptoms such as headaches, chest pain, and vision problems. Over time, it can damage major organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys. In severe cases, it can lead to clogged arteries, strokes, and heart disease.

Dr. Kamesh Sivagnanam, a cardiologist with Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, explains that one of the biggest challenges with hypertension is that many people are unaware they have it until serious complications occur.

“There’s a good reason why we call it the silent killer. Mostly because it’s very prevalent. A lot of people don’t recognize it. Unless you actually screen for it, you don’t know unless your blood pressure is really high. A lot of people don’t have symptoms from it, so they just walk around with essentially increased stress on multiple organs without recognizing it,” said Dr. Sivagnanam.

Dr. Sivagnanam says multiple risk factors contribute to high blood pressure, which falls into two categories: primary and secondary.

Primary hypertension is the most common and is often associated with factors such as age, genetics, diabetes, tobacco use, and environmental conditions.

Secondary hypertension, although less common, is usually caused by issues such as restricted blood flow to the kidneys.

He recommends that everyone get screened for high blood pressure at least once a year. For individuals with risk factors, screenings should be done twice a year to catch problems early.

Dr. Sivagnanam says a healthy blood pressure range should be between 120 – 130 over 80.
While hypertension can’t be cured, it can be managed. He recommends a balanced diet, reducing salt intake, regular exercise, and stress management as effective ways to lower blood pressure.

In addition, he urges everyone get screened regularly and seek medical care if they are at risk of hypertension.

To view the updated guidelines on managing high blood pressure, visit the American Heart Association.