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High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can be dangerous and requires continuous monitoring. The reason your doctor checks your blood pressure during every appointment, whether it's your annual physical or a trip to an urgent care center, is because it's the only way to know if you have hypertension. There are usually no warning signs or obvious symptoms.
If you've been diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe you an at-home blood pressure monitor so you can keep track of your numbers. It's important to know where you stand. If left unchecked, high blood pressure can cause serious health problems.
Heart problems — High blood pressure can damage the arteries leading to blockage and causing a heart attack. High blood pressure can also make the heart work harder, causing it to enlarge. These effects of high blood pressure can result in heart failure.
Stroke — High blood pressure is one of the leading risk factors for stroke. High blood pressure can cause blood vessels in the brain to be blocked or narrowed.
Cognitive issues — New research from the American Heart Association (AHA) links high blood pressure to cognitive function and memory loss in middle age and older adults.
Kidney failure — According to the AHA, high blood pressure is the second-leading cause of kidney failure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can narrow, harden, or weaken the arteries around the kidneys. If these arteries are damaged, they're not able to filter blood effectively.
Kidney disease — People with high blood pressure are also at higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
Vision loss — High blood pressure can cause damage to the nerves or blood vessels in the eyes. This damage can result in blurred or distorted vision or even complete vision loss.
Sexual dysfunction — Hypertension can lead to erectile dysfunction in men and lower libido in women.
In most cases, you can manage blood pressure through a combination of lifestyle changes and medication. The most important thing to do is communicate regularly with your doctor. You and your doctor need to regularly monitor your high blood pressure, especially if you have an underlying condition or are at risk for developing one.
If you need help finding an in-network doctor or facility, check Provider Finder. There are other essential resources on the TRS-Care Standard website that can also help:
Well onTarget — The Well onTarget portal and its AlwaysOn mobile app, available in the Apple App Store or on Google Play, can help you manage your health conditions and reach your wellness goals.
Fitness Program — You and your covered dependents (age 16 and older) have low-cost access to a nationwide network of fitness locations through your TRS-Care Standard health plan.
Health Advisors — A Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) nurse or other health care professional may call you or a covered family member after hospitalization or severe illness to offer support. Your health plan offers this service at no added cost to you.
You can learn more about lifestyle changes and medications on our Lowering Blood Pressure page.