It has earned the nickname “the silent killer” for good reason. High blood pressure — or hypertension, as physicians call it — rarely announces itself with obvious warning signs. You can feel perfectly fine while it quietly strains your heart, damages your kidneys, and increases your risk of stroke. For the millions of Americans living with the condition — many of them unaware — that silence can be deadly.
“High blood pressure often develops without symptoms, which is why many people don’t realize the damage it can cause over time. In cardiac rehabilitation, we see firsthand how controlling blood pressure through regular exercise, medication when needed, and heart-healthy habits can dramatically reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other complications,” said Jen Wagner, Rehab Supervisor at Grant Regional Health Center. “Prevention and monitoring are just as important as treatment.”
What Is High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the force your blood exerts against the walls of your arteries. “High blood pressure (hypertension) means your blood is pushing against your artery walls too forcefully,” said Brooke Shannon, Cardiology, PA-C at Southwest Health.
Pressure is measured in two numbers: systolic pressure (the top number, when your heart beats) and diastolic pressure (the bottom number, when your heart rests). A reading below 120/80 mmHg is considered normal, 120-129 systolic and under 80 diastolic is elevated pressure, and readings consistently at or above 130/80 are classified as hypertension.
Many people assume high blood pressure is something that happens to older adults. Dr. Kyle Leubka, family medicine physician at Medical Associates Clinic, says that’s no longer the reality. “It used to be considered more of a disease of later life, but not so much today. I have folks in my practice in their 20s and 30s with hypertension.”
That reality makes awareness and early screening more important for Dubuque residents of every generation.
To read the remainder of this premium article and other premium articles in their entirety, pick up the Julien’s Journal May 2026 issue. Single issues are available in print for free at area newsstands, or you can click here to read the entire article for free in the digital version of the magazine.
Read Julien’s Journal, CHOICES For Fifty Plus and Tri-State Home TRENDS from the Comfort of Your Home!
Click to subscribe or call 563.557.7571 to subscribe for convenient delivery to your home or business by mail.
Comment here