High Blood Pressure
What is High Blood Pressure?
Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure is the measurement of the force of blood flow pumped by your heart through your arteries. High blood pressure often doesn't manifest in symptoms but is checked at every doctor's visit because it can indicate that serious health problems are imminent including heart attack, heart disease, peripheral artery disease, heart failure, aortic aneurysms, kidney failure and stroke.
Measured with a blood pressure cuff and recorded as one number representing the systolic pressure over another number that represents the diastolic pressure, normal blood pressure is 120/80. Systolic pressure measures the pressure of the blood pumped against the arterial walls when the heart contracts. Diastolic pressure measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats while the heart is relaxed and filling with blood.
Having high blood pressure can affect your health insurance policy. Learn more about this condition in the following sections:
- Treating high blood pressure
- Ways to prevent high blood pressure
- High blood pressure and challenges obtaining health insurance
- Health care options for people for people with high blood pressure
What Are the Treatment Options for High Blood Pressure?
Treatment for high blood pressure begins with lifestyle changes including a healthy diet, exercise and quitting smoking. Medications are prescribed if these changes don't bring about enough change. These include:
- Diuretics to flush out excess sodium
- Beta blockers to reduce heart rate
- Calcium channel blockers to relax the heart muscle
- Angiotensin converting enzyme, direct vasodilators, and alpha blockers to relax the blood vessels
Are There Any Preventative Measures Which May Prevent High Blood Pressure?
Preventative measures include picking up a positive lifestyle before your blood pressure begins to rise. Moderate alcohol intake, no smoking, a diet low in salt and fat, regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight can all help you keep your blood pressure at a normal level.
How Might High Blood Pressure Affect My Ability to Get Health Insurance?
High blood pressure is considered a pre-existing condition and therefore many new health insurance plans will impose a waiting period of three, six, or 12 months.
What Insurance Options Are Available to Those Who Have High Blood Pressure?
If you have problems covering your medical expenses due to lack of health insurance coverage, you may choose to opt for a supplemental insurance policy or disease specific insurance that will cover all claims related to a specific health issue.
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Last Updated : Tuesday, August 14, 2007