How to beat hypertension | Oscar Rx | hioscar Blog | Oscar
How to beat hypertension
Managing hypertension (aka high blood pressure) can be a pain, but Oscar is here to help.
General HealthClinically Speaking
6 min read
Dr. Amy Esposito
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Hypertension – also known as high blood pressure – is a common medical condition. In fact, 32% of adults in the U.S. (opens in new tab) have been diagnosed with it. And it can have a big impact on your health. Living with sustained elevated blood pressure for years can increase morbidity and mortality, and lead to other health issues like cardiovascular events, strokes, metabolic syndromes, sudden death, chronic kidney disease, and organ issues.
If you’ve been diagnosed with hypertension, it’s time to get your health under control. The first step is to identify and treat the underlying causes and holistically manage your health through lifestyle changes via diet, exercise, medications, and routine check-ups with a doctor.
We’re here to help you manage your hypertension diagnosis like a boss. Read on to get expert advice from Dr. Amy Esposito, Medical Director at the Oscar Center (opens in new tab), and learn about the resources you have at Oscar.
Causes of hypertension.
Hypertension can be caused by a number of different factors. A few of the most common factors include:
Genetics
You can thank mom and dad for high blood pressure – genetics are the leading cause of hypertension. Knowing your family history of hypertension can help you manage your condition more effectively. Medications and management strategies that have worked for your family members may also work well for you based on your genetic makeup. Ask your family members if they have hypertension, when they were diagnosed, and what treatments have worked for them.
It’s not just genetics that are to blame for hypertension. Your organs function as a team, and often, one medical condition can lead to another. Obesity, diabetes (opens in new tab), alcohol abuse (opens in new tab), and kidney problems are known to cause hypertension. Dr. Esposito says:
“Your kidneys and heart are partners in regulating your blood pressure. If you have decreased kidney function, you get a reciprocal elevation in blood pressure.”
Age and gender
Even age and gender can affect blood pressure. For example, many women who are peri- or post-menopausal develop hypertension due to fluctuating hormone levels. Lifestyle choices such as a high-sodium diet, excessive alcohol consumption, and lack of physical activity will also spike blood pressure and, over time, make it a chronic issue.
High blood pressure often has no signs or symptoms. The best way to determine if you’ve got it is to get a reading during your free annual physical with your primary care doctor (opens in new tab). Once you know your numbers, you and your doctor can explore lifestyle changes and medications that can effectively lower your blood pressure.
A normal blood pressure reading will be below 120 or 80 (opens in new tab). Anything above will require management, especially if you have other health conditions.
If you receive a high blood pressure reading at a doctor’s visit, then you’ll need to return two weeks later for a follow-up reading. If you clock high numbers a second time, then you’ll need to start treatment immediately.
Team up with your doc.
After you’ve received a hypertension diagnosis, you’ll need to see your primary care doctor every 3-6 months to manage your condition. Each time you visit your doc, you’ll get a blood pressure reading and discuss ways you can improve your numbers in between visits.
Your doctor will also help you manage your medications, which sometimes requires some trial and error to find the right combination of drugs and dosages. Many people who have hypertension take more than one medication to treat the condition. These types of medications range from diuretics, calcium channel blockers, ACE-Inhibitors, ARBs, and beta blockers. Take your medications as directed, and be sure to report back to your doctor about how they're affecting you.
You and your doctor will also discuss your daily habits and any lifestyle changes you can make to improve your condition. Lifestyle changes can be hard to make, and utilizing your doctor as a resource will make them easier.
Lean on your Oscar nurse.
As an Oscar member, you have your very own Concierge team, which includes a nurse who can help you book appointments with doctors, manage your medications, and build a care plan so you can stay on top of your treatment.
If you were recently diagnosed with hypertension, give your Oscar Concierge team a call at 855-672-2755. Your nurse will complete a general health assessment and design a personal care plan that’s specifically tailored to your needs. Your care plan will include educational materials about hypertension, health goals, and lifestyle modifications you can make through diet and exercise.
Your Concierge nurse will help troubleshoot any obstacles preventing you from getting the care you need. If you’re having trouble getting to your doctor’s appointments, they’ll explore ways you can get your transportation needs met. They can also alleviate some of the stress of managing your condition with services like Oscar’s CVS Mail Order Rx program.
Your nurse will also help you prepare for your appointments and determine the right questions to ask your doctor when you see them. They’ll also check in with you after your appointments to help make sure you get any follow-up care you need, track your lab work progress, and provide clinical support for medication side effects and other issues that may pop up during treatment.
Cut your salt intake.
Sodium is a key element in salt. It helps regulate your blood volume, shuttles nutrients into your body (opens in new tab), and helps your muscles and nerves fire up with energy. It also spikes your blood pressure and contributes to most cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke, especially if you already have high blood-pressure or renal issues.
If you have hypertension, you’ll need to shake your salt habit. Most Americans eat on average 3.4g a day of salt – a lot more than the recommended 2.3g per day recommended by the American Heart Association Cutting back even 1g of sodium per day can help lower your blood pressure.
You can eat a low salt diet (opens in new tab) by preparing your own meals, avoiding pre-packaged foods, staying away from the salt shaker, buying unsalted snack items, cooking with spices, and avoiding performance drinks unless you’re training for a big event.
Manage stress.
Chronic stress can impact your body functions and lead to all kinds of health issues - from depression and anxiety to autoimmune disorders to skin conditions. If your lifestyle is stressing you out, then your blood pressure might also take a hit.
Manage stress through relaxation, eat a healthy, plant-based diet, and be sure to get a good night's sleep and enough exercise. Try a meditation or yoga class at the Oscar Center (opens in new tab) to build or boost your mindfulness practice. If you’re having a hard time managing your stress, you can always talk it out with a professional.
Kick those bad habits.
Smoking and chewing tobacco (opens in new tab) can immediately raise your blood pressure and contribute to heart issues and other diseases. If you’re having a hard time kicking your habit, Oscar covers smoking cessation. Give your concierge a call today to start the process.
Alcohol causes your blood sugar levels to fluctuate, which can skyrocket your blood pressure, cause weight problems, and contribute to heart disease. Limit your alcohol intake (opens in new tab) to no more than two drinks per day for men and no more than one drink per day for women.
Get moving.
Being overweight puts extra stress on your heart. This causes your blood vessels to become stiff and your blood to flow less freely, resulting in high blood pressure. Exercising regularly (opens in new tab) can help you maintain a healthy body weight, which will reduce your risk of high-blood pressure or help bring your numbers down if you've been diagnosed with hypertension.
If you can, spread your workouts into bite-sized increments throughout the day to keep your blood flowing and clock a minimum of 150 minutes of sustained physical activity per week. Most kinds of sustained physical activity like walking, cycling, or running can help keep your blood pressure numbers at a healthy level.
The bottom line
The best thing you can do to prevent or manage hypertension is start seeing a primary care doctor each year for an annual physical. If you need help finding someone, you can call or message (opens in new tab) your Concierge team any time.
