High Blood Pressure
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Cardia Vision, LLC.
Radiologists & Cardiovascular Imaging Specialists located in Bellevue, WA
Almost half of American adults have high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. But with the right preventive steps, you can manage your blood pressure and avoid such life-threatening outcomes. At Cardia Vision, LLC. in Bellevue, Washington, board-certified radiologist Kimberly Brockenbrough, MD, offers the only coronary CT angiogram screening service in the Seattle area. With an early diagnosis of heart disease, you can live your best and longest life. Call the office or click the online scheduler.
High Blood Pressure Q & A
What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure means your blood is moving too forcefully through your blood vessels.
A blood pressure reading has two numbers. The first, systolic blood pressure, is the force your blood puts on your blood vessel walls when your heart beats. The other number, diastolic blood pressure, is the force that blood exerts between heartbeats.
Normal blood pressure
Normal, healthy blood pressure is less than 120 mm Hg systolic and less than 80 mm Hg diastolic.
Elevated blood pressure
Elevated blood pressure is 120-129 mm Hg systolic and less than 80 mm Hg diastolic.
Hypertension
Stage one hypertension is 130-139 mm Hg systolic or 80-89 mmHg diastolic. Stage two hypertension is 140 mm Hg or higher systolic or 90 mm Hg or higher diastolic.
If you have elevated or high blood pressure (hypertension), it’s important to be aware of its risks and take proper preventive steps to stay healthy.
What are the risks of high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is serious and sometimes deadly. If you don’t treat high blood pressure, you could suffer severe consequences, including stroke, heart disease, and heart attack.
If you have high blood pressure, it’s vitally important that you take steps to normalize your blood pressure, such as taking medication, eating a healthy diet, getting exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight.
It’s equally important to take proactive steps to preserve your heart health, which starts with cardiology imaging at Cardia Vision.
Do I need heart imaging if I have high blood pressure?
Because high blood pressure is a major risk factor for serious heart problems, you need to have a heart scan earlier than you normally would. For men, this means age 40; for women, age 50.
At Cardia Vision, LLC., Dr. Brockenbrough uses the cutting-edge CT scanner to perform coronary CT angiograms, or Cardia Vision. This scan produces highly detailed images of the blood vessels in your heart.
A Cardia Vision Scan allows Dr. Brockenbrough to identify the earliest stages of atherosclerosis, when cholesterol and other fatty materials accumulate inside your blood vessels.
Over time, atherosclerosis leads to artery narrowing, blocked blood flow, and complications like heart attack. But with early diagnosis, you can start treatment immediately. Dr. Brockenbrough can help you do what’s needed to greatly reduce your risk of heart disease and heart attack.
Book your appointment at Cardia Vision, LLC. by calling the office or clicking the online scheduler.
