Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is often called a "silent
disease" because you usually don’t know you have it. There are no outward
symptoms or signs. Nonetheless, it damages the body and eventually might cause
such problems as heart disease.
Therefore, it’s important to regularly monitor your blood
pressure, especially if it’s ever been high or above the "normal" range, or if
you have a family history of hypertension. Because hypertension can cause heart
disease, you can also undergo various tests to determine if you have heart disease.
How is my blood pressure measured?
Your doctor or health care provider can check your blood
pressure during a physical exam. (You can also check your own blood pressure at
home.) Blood pressure is measured with a device known as a sphygmomanometer,
which consists of a stethoscope, arm cuff, dial, pump, and valve. (A digital
blood pressure monitor provides an electronic blood pressure reading.)
Your blood pressure is measured in the following manner:
- The cuff is wrapped over your arm and inflated with the pump until it
stops the flow of blood.
- The valve lets air out of the cuff, which starts the blood flow again.
- The stethoscope is placed under the cuff to listen for the sound of
blood rushing back through the artery. The first sound is the systolic blood
pressure, the force of the blood against the artery walls as the heart
beats. The second number, the diastolic pressure, occurs when the sound
isn’t heard anymore. This is the blood pressure between heartbeats.
The blood pressure reading is measured in millimeters of mercury
(mm Hg) and is written as systolic over diastolic (for example, 120/80 mm Hg, or
"120 over 80"). According to the most recent hypertension treatment guidelines,
a normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg.
What are the tests for heart disease?
In addition to measuring your blood pressure, your doctor
will ask about your medical history (whether you’ve had heart problems before),
assess your risk factors (whether you smoke, have high cholesterol, diabetes,
stroke, or kidney disease), and talk about your family history (whether any
members of your family have had heart disease, which is another risk factor).
Your doctor will also conduct a physical exam. As part of this
exam, he or she will listen to your heart and may feel and listen to your pulses
to look for any signs of blockage. Your doctor might also choose to do blood
tests to look for diabetes, kidney disease, or signs of inflammation.
In general, testing for heart disease is most useful in patients
who have signs or symptoms of heart disease identified during the history and
physical exam. Among the most commonly used tests are the following:
- Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) — This measures the electrical
activity, rate, and rhythm of your heartbeat via electrodes attached to your
arms, legs, and chest. The results are recorded on graph paper and
interpreted by your doctor.
- Echocardiogram — This test sends ultrasound waves that provide
pictures of the heart's valves and chambers so the pumping action of the
heart can be studied.
- Exercise stress test — During this test, you exercise on a
stationary bicycle or treadmill to increase your heart rate while EKG
readings are taken. A stress test can also be combined with an
echocardiogram or nuclear medicine X-ray to get additional information.
- Cardiac catheterization — During this test, a catheter, a small
flexible tube, is inserted into an artery and guided to the coronary
arteries. Your doctor can locate any blockages in the arteries and can also
observe pressure and blood flow in the heart.
- Ultrasound — This test uses high-frequency sound waves to look for
blockages in blood vessels in the neck (carotid arteries).
- PAD testing – This test looks for any evidence of blockages in the
blood vessels in the legs.
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 1/18/2009...#12275
