Cardiology Questions | New England Baptist Hospital

Email | Print | Share

Text Size

Home > Patient and Visitor Guide > Ask the Experts > Browse by Speciality > Cardiology Questions

Ask the Experts

Cardiology Q&As

How do you know when you have high blood pressure?

How do you know when you have high blood pressure?

- John, Franklin, MA

Usually when you are sick, you feel tired, weak, or you may hurt. With high blood pressure you may feel fine, nothing feels different, but you are sick. It is truly a silent killer. When you have your blood pressure checked, a blood pressure cuff is placed around your arm and measures the push of your blood against the cuff. There are different sizes of cuffs for different arm sizes for more accurate readings. You may need to have this done more than just one time, so the doctor or nurse can see if your blood pressure stays high. If you think you may have high blood pressure, you should talk to your physician.

Thank you for your question!

Frederick Basilico, MD, Cardiology

What can I do to improve my high blood pressure?

What can I do to improve my high blood pressure?;

- Sally, Nashua, NH

You can improve your high blood pressure by:

Maintaining a healthy weight
Getting regular exercise
Eating low-calorie snacks
Eating less at every meal
Eating less fried foods
Choosing foods that are lower in fat and sodium
If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation

As always, check with your health care provider first.

Thank you for your question!

Howard Honig, MD, Cardiology

What are the risk factors for stroke?

What are the risk factors for stroke?

- Mabel, Roxbury, MA

Overall, the most common risk factors for stroke are:

high blood pressure
high cholesterol
smoking
diabetes
increasing age

Heart rhythm disturbances like atrial fibrillation, patent foramen ovale, and heart valve disease can also be the cause. When strokes occur in younger individuals (less than 50 years old), less common risk factors are considered including illicit drugs, such as cocaine or amphetamines, ruptured aneurysms, and inherited (genetic) predispositions to blood clotting.

Thank you for your question!

Frederick Basilico, MD, Cardiology