Workplace Well-Being Health Education

High Blood pressures is also known as hypertension. It is diagnosed when 3 blood pressure readings, taken at separate times, are averaged out and the number is >/= 140/90. Sometimes it is caused by a family history. It can also be caused by lifestyle choices such as diet, alcohol consumption, smoking and a sedentary lifestyle.

Some people with high blood pressure may not have any symptoms, even when their blood pressure is dangerously high. This is why high blood pressure is often called the “silent killer”. Symptoms usually do not occur until high blood pressure has reached a severe or life-threatening stage. Symptoms can include severe headaches, chest pain, dizziness, difficulty breathing, nausea, blurred vision, and anxiety.

Diabetes is a chronic condition that manifests when the body is unable to properly regulate blood sugar levels. Glucose in blood is regulated by a special hormone called insulin. Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, or if it does not use insulin properly. This leads to high glucose levels in the blood.

Symptoms can include increased thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, unexpected or unexplained weight loss, fatigue, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, slow healing wounds, and skin or vaginal yeast infections.

Diagnosis is either by higher glucose levels or an A1C level; a fasting glucose of 126 and above is indicative of diabetes and an A1C of 6.5 and above, is diagnosis of diabetes.

It is important to work to control high blood pressure and diabetes because both can be silent killers. Damage happens slowly. By the time symptoms show, some of the damage is already done and can be irreversible. They are the main contributors of stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure.

For both, it is important to know your numbers. Preventative screenings help with that. Both can be controlled. Knowing is important. Plus, diet and lifestyle also play a large role. A healthy lifestyle includes a balanced diet, exercise, stress management, not smoking and limiting alcohol consumption.

Primary care providers promote preventative care by screening for conditions like high blood pressure & diabetes. Dr. Mashindi is happy to answer your questions about screenings for high blood pressure and diabetes. Our family medicine office also is taking new patients. We are open Monday-Friday, 8AM – 5PM. Call 317-468-4600 to schedule.

Communicating clearly and confidently with your healthcare provider is important. Our family medicine offices feature a dedicated Voyce iPad station. Medical language interpreters connect on average in less than 30 seconds and collectively service 243 languages and dialects including: Spanish, Haitian Creole, French Creole, Burmese, Hakha Chin and Tigrinya.

Additionally, The Jane Pauley Community Health Center is here for you and your loved ones. It offers family healthcare, plus extra support, and resources for those with Medicaid or without insurance. Their team also can help families enroll in Indiana’s programs as well.