High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, when left untreated, can cause damage to your circulatory system, heart, and lungs. Fortunately, it is a condition that can be treated successfully, especially when caught early, before much damage is done. Unless the condition is severe, the only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to check it with a blood pressure cuff.
What is High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is how much pressure is required to move your blood through the arteries and veins to reach every part of your body. Blood pressure in the normal range means that the blood moves easily without putting undue stress on your heart or circulatory system.
High blood pressure means that the heart must work harder with each pump to get the blood to move. Over time, this extra pressure begins to damage the walls of your veins and arteries and wear down the heart.
What Causes High Blood Pressure?
Many things can cause high blood pressure. Genetics often plays a part, but your lifestyle choices can also affect it. Being overweight, smoking, lack of exercise, and not finding ways to alleviate the stressors in your life can cause your blood pressure to rise.
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
Unfortunately, high blood pressure is symptomless until the pressure has reached very high levels. The symptoms of very high blood pressure include:
- Heart palpitations
- Nose bleeds
- Blurred vision
- Headache
- Lightheadedness
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
Treatments for High Blood Pressure
As with many medical conditions, if caught early, you can easily treat high blood pressure by changing your lifestyle and taking a variety of prescription medications. These include:
- Diuretics, commonly known as "water pills" - this type of medication will help your kidneys rid your body of excess fluid and salt, making it easier for the blood to flow freely through the circulatory system. Hydrochlorothiazide and Lasix are common diuretics.
- ACE Inhibitors - this type of medication lowers blood pressure by blocking the production of a chemical that narrows the blood vessels. Lisinopril and Benazepril are popular ACE Inhibitors.
- Calcium Channel Blockers - this type of medication lowers the blood pressure by relaxing the muscles of the blood vessels. Some may also lower your heart rate. Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker.
RxLess Can Lower the Cost of Your Blood Pressure Medications
If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and have been given prescriptions for medications to help control it, rxless can help you afford those prescriptions. A quick search for the medicines you need and RxLess will present you with a list of pharmacies in your area, including CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens, and how much you can save at each.
Once you choose a pharmacy, you email, text or print out the free prescription discount card, show it to the pharmacists, and they will ring up the savings. You can use the RxLess pharmacy discount card to reduce the cost of all your prescribed health and wellness medications.
