Understanding how a diagnosis of high blood pressure is made is a vital step towards moving forward in a healthy way. Because a diagnosis of high blood pressure consists of several distinct points, you should be familiar with the meaning and purpose of each point.
- Know Your Numbers
You should know the values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure that are being recorded in the medical record, because they provide information on the severity of the disease, treatment options, and appropriate follow up care
Write these numbers down in a small notebook. Each time you visit the doctor, update them to help track your treatment. Even this small act can provide an important sense of control and empowerment
- Learn the Cause
High blood pressure can sometimes be due to an identifiable cause, like kidney disease, certain medications, and more. If an underlying cause is identified, then your doctor will devise treatment to address it.
Usually, no single factor can be identified. In these cases, the blood pressure itself is the sole target of treatment, and the strategies used will differ.
Understanding the cause of your high blood pressure allows you to focus your energy on addressing the next steps in treatment. It can also provide peace of mind, since it rules in or rules out the possiblility of underlying diseases.
- Determine Your Stage
While the classification scheme used to describe the cause of high blood pressure (Primary and Secondary) does not convey any indication about the actual severity or progression of the disease, staging is a universal system that does convey this information.
When giving a diagnosis of high blood pressure, doctors will record it as being either Stage I or Stage II. This is important information because there are guidelines in place that dictate appropriate treatment options based on stage.
Staging is based on actual numerical blood pressure readings, and has strict cutoff values
