What is Hypertension?
The first step to hypertension care is knowing hypertension.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is one of the world’s most common chronic diseases, affecting over 1.1 billion cases worldwide. The condition occurs when the blood pressure is higher than normal, which may cause serious health issues, such as cardiovascular diseases.
Known for being a silent killer, most hypertension patients do not present symptoms until a severe stage is reached. Therefore, maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle paired with periodic blood pressure monitoring is crucial.
Types of Hypertension
There are two main types of high blood pressure.
Primary hypertension: Occurs naturally in adults, there’s no identifiable cause of high blood pressure. This type of hypertension tends to develop gradually over the years.
Secondary hypertension: Some people develop high blood pressure caused by an underlying family condition or an unhealthy lifestyle. This type of hypertension tends to appear suddenly and causes higher blood pressure than primary hypertension.
of the conditions that may lead to secondary hypertension are: – Diabetes
– Obesity
– Kidney disease
– Certain medications, such as birth control pills and over-the-counter pain relievers
– Physical inactivity and unhealthy diets
Hypertension Management
Your blood pressure levels indicate how well your hypertension is being managed. As you check your blood pressure, you start understanding what foods and activities makes your blood pressure pressure levels go up and down. For example, you may see that when you are stressed or eat certain foods, your numbers go up. This information gives you insight of what habits needs to be changed.
Preparing for the measurement
– Choose a quiet location
– Do not smoke or drink coffee 30 minutes before the testing
– Sit calmly for 5 minutes before measuring blood pressure — avoid taking a measurement if uncomfortable or stressed
– Remove tight clothing from the upper arm. Sleeves should not be rolled up, as it may interfere with the measurement
During the measurement People with hypertension have blood pressure targets that they try to reach at different times of the day. These targets are:
– Place blood pressure cuff 2-3 cm above the elbow
– Rest the arm at heart level
– Keep legs uncrossed and feet on the floor
– Do not speak throughout the measurement
Speak to your health care team about what blood pressure levels are right for you.
Hypertension Management
The FORA Telehealth System offers you better access to your health condition data and allows caregivers to monitor your results via the Internet remotely. The FORA software accurately collects data in a digital format and incorporates it into a digital record that can be securely transmitted to your family and health provider. This way, you can communicate with your healthcare team from wherever you are.
Intending to make your Hypertension management easier, ForaCare has developed:
• FORA Telehealth System
• iFORA mobile apps
