Understanding Hypertension: Key Facts and Management Tips
April 29, 2026 | Tags:
What’s your blood pressure?
Nearly 50% of adults in the United States have high blood pressure, but many don’t even realize it. Here are a few important things to know about high blood pressure, also called hypertension.
What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure occurs when the force of blood flowing through your blood vessels is consistently too high. “It’s often called ‘the silent killer’ because most of the time, there are no obvious symptoms,” said Denise, a Clinical Quality Management Nurse at Medical Mutual.
There are a variety of factors that increase your risk for high blood pressure. Some include:
- Family history
- Age
- Gender
- Race
- Chronic kidney disease
- Stress
- Obesity
- Lack of physical activity
“When left untreated, high blood pressure can cause damage to your circulatory system and significantly contribute to a heart attack, stroke and other health threats,” Denise said.
What is considered normal?
Have your blood pressure tested to measure your level. The normal range for most adults is less than 120 systolic over less than 80 diastolic (<120/80 mm Hg), but talk to your doctor to discuss what’s right for you. A systolic measurement between 120-129 is considered to be elevated. Any reading above 130 systolic or 80 diastolic is entering the hypertension stage. Lifestyle changes and medication may be necessary to help lower your levels.
Regular sleep for regular blood pressure
Sticking to a regular sleep schedule may benefit your cardiovascular health. A recent study showed that people who vary their bedtimes or sleep in on the weekends are more likely to have high blood pressure than those with consistent sleep routines. The American Heart Association recommends adults get seven to nine hours of sleep every night.
Keep your LDL l-o-w
If you have high blood pressure, it’s important to try to keep your low-density cholesterol (LDL) low to decrease the risk of heart attack or stroke. Lipoprotein(a) can build up too much in your arteries and cause problems with your blood flow.
Lowering your blood pressure may be good for your brain
We know that lowering your blood pressure is good for your heart. New research suggests that blood pressure treatment may help clear toxins and other byproducts from your brain, which potentially could reduce the risk of dementia.
Hypertension prevention
Living a healthy lifestyle can help keep your blood pressure in a healthy range. Here are some things you can do to prevent high blood pressure:
- Eat a healthy diet: Include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and foods rich in potassium, fiber, and protein.
- Maintain a healthy weight and body composition: Measure your waist to determine if your weight is in the healthy range.
- Get regular exercise: Get a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise five days a week.
- Don't smoke: Smoking raises your blood pressure and puts you at higher risk for heart attack and stroke.
- Limit alcohol use: Limit yourself to no more than one alcoholic drink per day.
Many members benefit from a whole‑person approach that supports sleep, stress, and emotional well‑being alongside hypertension management. With ongoing engagement from Medical Mutual’s Case Management team—including coaching, resource connections, and lifestyle support—one member saw meaningful improvements like weight loss, better sleep with CPAP therapy, and reduced alcohol use, all of which helped stabilize his blood pressure.
Talk to your primary care provider
Medical Mutual can help you manage your hypertension with proactive, ongoing support designed to improve long‑term health outcomes. As the member's engagement with the Case Management team continued, he showed measurable improvement by experiencing fewer hypertensive symptoms, gaining a stronger understanding of his condition and developing greater confidence in self‑monitoring.
Make an appointment to see your primary care provider (PCP) to have your blood pressure checked and discuss any risks or other treatment options. If you have high blood pressure, your PCP may prescribe medicine along with lifestyle changes for management. Your treatment plan will depend on your current blood pressure levels and your overall risk of heart disease and stroke.
Take your medications as prescribed and consider setting up refill reminders with your preferred pharmacy. It is important to carefully follow your healthcare team’s instructions and ask questions if you don’t understand something or need more information. Talk to your PCP first before stopping or making changes to your medication. If you don’t have a PCP, use the MedMutual Find a Provider tool on My Health Plan to find a PCP in your plan’s network.