High Blood Pressure Living With High Blood Pressure
If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is important that you continue your treatment plan. You will need regular follow-up care and should learn how to monitor your condition at home. Your healthcare provider may need to change or add medicines to your treatment plan over time.
Let your provider know if you are planning to become pregnant or are pregnant. Pregnancy and High Blood Pressure has more information about this topic. Medicines for high blood pressure may lower your risk of pregnancy complications without harming the developing baby.
Manage your condition
Keep up your treatment plan, including healthy lifestyle changes, to help control your blood pressure and prevent heart disease. Making lifestyle changes and remembering your medicine every day can be hard, but there are tools to help you.
Ask your provider or pharmacist about apps for monitoring and tracking your blood pressure. They also may know how to set up text messages that remind you to take your medicine every day and notify you when it is time to fill your prescription.
Get support from loved ones and others in your community. You can share the Supporting Your Loved One with High Blood Pressure tip sheet with them.
Have regular medical checkups and tests, as advised by your provider. Ask questions and talk about your progress. Tell your provider about any new conditions or if you have been taking new medicines since your last appointment.
Your provider may want you to check your blood pressure at home or at other locations that have blood pressure equipment. The Self-Measured Blood Pressure Fact Sheet includes information on how to take your blood pressure yourself.
My Blood Pressure Wallet Card
This information card can help you track your blood pressure readings, learn ways to control high blood pressure, and find questions to ask your healthcare provider.
When to call your provider; when to call 9-1-1
Readings above 180/120 are dangerously high and require immediate medical attention. Blood pressure this high can damage your organs.
Call 9-1-1 if you experience:
- A sudden, severe headache
- Difficulty breathing
- A sudden, severe pain in your abdomen, chest, or back
- Numbness or weakness
- A sudden change in vision
- Problems talking
High blood pressure can lead to heart attack, stroke, cardiac arrest, or other dangerous symptoms and conditions. Call 9-1-1 if you suspect this is happening to you or someone else.
Heart attack
Symptoms of a heart attack may include:
- Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fainting, or breaking out in a cold sweat. These symptoms are more common in women.
- Prolonged or severe chest pain or discomfort not relieved by rest or nitroglycerin.
- Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center or left side of the chest. This pain or discomfort can be mild or strong, and it often lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
- Shortness of breath. This may occur before or during chest discomfort.
- Upper body discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or upper part of the stomach.
Stroke
If you think someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T.
- F — Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
- A — Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
- S — Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
- T — Time: If you observe any of these signs, call for help immediately. Early treatment is essential.