High Blood Pressure Charleston SC - A Local Patient's Guide | Hope Integrative Medicine
November 6, 2026 · 1:14
A guide to managing high blood pressure in Charleston. Learn about integrative approaches, local resources, and lifestyle modifications specific to Lowcountry living.
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Transcript
Managing high blood pressure in Charleston: a local patient's guide. Here are three things to know. The American Heart Association defines normal blood pressure as less than 120 over 80. Elevated is 120 to 129 on top with the bottom under 80. Stage 1 is 130 to 139 on top or 80 to 89 on the bottom, and stage 2 is 140 or higher on top or 90 or higher on the bottom. High blood pressure affects nearly half of American adults, and it often has no obvious symptoms. Over time it can damage blood vessels, the heart, brain, kidneys and eyes, raising the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and vision problems. That is why regular checks matter. Lifestyle changes are the foundation. That means the DASH eating plan, less sodium, regular physical activity, stress management and good sleep, including checking for sleep apnea. When lifestyle changes are not enough, medicines help, and home monitoring with a validated device shows how well your plan is working. Read the full article at hopeintegrativemed.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
The top number, systolic, is the pressure when your heart beats. The bottom number, diastolic, is the pressure when your heart rests between beats. Both are measured in millimeters of mercury.
It is blood pressure that is high only in medical settings. Masked hypertension is the opposite: normal readings in the office but high readings at home. Home monitoring helps tell them apart.
Common options include ACE inhibitors and ARBs, calcium channel blockers, thiazide diuretics and beta blockers. Your provider chooses based on your age, other conditions and side effects, and some people need a combination.
