Understanding Endocrine and Metabolic Conditions

Learn about a wide range of hormonal, adrenal, thyroid, and metabolic conditions. Each article provides clear, concise information to help you better understand the causes, symptoms, and potential health impacts of these disorders.

Hypertension: Understanding High Blood Pressure and How Health Force One Supports You

Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is a chronic medical condition where the force of the blood against the artery walls is consistently too high. It is often called a “silent killer” because it typically has no symptoms but can lead to serious health problems like heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, and vision loss if left untreated.


What Causes Hypertension?


Hypertension can be classified as:

  • Primary (essential) hypertension, which has no identifiable cause and develops gradually over time.
  • Secondary hypertension, which is caused by an underlying condition such as kidney disease, adrenal disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, or thyroid abnormalities.


Other contributing factors include:

  • Obesity
  • High salt intake
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Chronic stress
  • Smoking and alcohol use
  • Family history of high blood pressure


Diagnosis

Blood pressure is measured using two numbers:

  • Systolic pressure (top number): pressure in arteries during heartbeats
  • Diastolic pressure (bottom number): pressure between beats

According to current guidelines:

  • Normal: <120/80 mmHg
  • Elevated: 120–129/<80 mmHg
  • Stage 1 Hypertension: 130–139/80–89 mmHg
  • Stage 2 Hypertension: ≥140/90 mmHg
  • Hypertensive crisis: >180/120 mmHg, requiring immediate medical attention


Symptoms

Most people with hypertension have no symptoms. However, severely high blood pressure can cause:

  • Headaches
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nosebleeds
  • Chest pain or vision changes (in hypertensive emergencies)


Why It Matters

Uncontrolled hypertension increases the risk of:

  • Heart attack and heart failure
  • Stroke
  • Kidney disease
  • Aneurysms
  • Cognitive decline


How Health Force One Can Help

At Health Force One, we take a comprehensive approach to hypertension management, providing:

  • Telehealth visits with licensed providers
  • Accurate diagnosis and blood pressure monitoring
  • Lab work to identify secondary causes (e.g., thyroid, adrenal, kidney-related)
  • Lifestyle counseling on diet, exercise, and salt intake
  • Medication management, including titration and monitoring for side effects
  • Patient education to empower long-term blood pressure control

We partner with you to reduce your risk of complications and improve your long-term cardiovascular health.

References

  1. Whelton PK, et al. (2018). 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/AphA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults. Hypertension, 71(6), e13–e115. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYP.0000000000000065
  2. Carey RM, et al. (2022). Resistant hypertension: Detection, evaluation, and management. Hypertension, 79(6), 1206–1218. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.121.18654
  3. Taler SJ. (2019). Secondary hypertension: Detection and treatment. Current Hypertension Reports, 21(11), 91. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-019-0988-3
  4. Williams B, et al. (2020). Guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension. Journal of Hypertension, 38(4), 680–726. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000002346
  5. CDC. (2023). Facts about hypertension. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/about.htm