Does insurance cover high blood pressure?
Most plans will provide coverage for non-chronic pre-existing conditions. High blood pressure is considered a chronic condition, and hence not all plans include coverage for high blood pressure.
It is covered by most Medicare and insurance plans, but some pharmacy coupons or cash prices may be lower. Atenolol (Tenormin) is an inexpensive drug used to treat high blood pressure and prevent chest pain.
Hypertension is a serious medical condition and can increase the risk of heart, brain, kidney and other diseases. It is a major cause of premature death worldwide, with upwards of 1 in 4 men and 1 in 5 women – over a billion people – having the condition.
' The answer is simple – high blood pressure is classed as a pre-existing medical condition, so you do need to tell your insurance provider when applying for a policy. If you don't disclose your diagnosis and you fall ill on holiday and it's related to your high blood pressure, your policy may be invalidated.
Most life insurance companies consider any reading higher than 130 over 80 as high blood pressure. This reading falls into the Stage 1 category.
Compare lisinopril prices to related drugs | |
---|---|
Drug name | Price without insurance of brand-name drug |
Accupril (quinapril) | $206 per 30, 40 mg tablets |
Vasotec (enalapril) | $965 per 30, 20 mg tablets |
Monopril (fosinopril) | $36 per 30, 20 mg tablets of generic Monopril |
A retrospective analysis was conducted of the cost of hypertension care at one internal medicine clinic, looking at the cost of office visits, laboratory tests, and medications. Cost of hypertension care was $947 the first year of treatment, $575 the second year, and $420 per year thereafter.
Normal pressure is 120/80 or lower. Your blood pressure is considered high (stage 1) if it reads 130/80. Stage 2 high blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. If you get a blood pressure reading of 180/110 or higher more than once, seek medical treatment right away.
If you have a BP of 140/90, that is considered high blood pressure and you should discuss this with your doctor. The first thing that is usually recommended for people with high blood pressure to do is lifestyle changes such as: Maintaining a healthy weight. Consuming a healthy balanced diet low in salt.
- Meditate or focus on deep breathing. Meditation and breathing exercises can help you relax, which slows your heart rate and lowers your blood pressure.
- Reduce your stress levels. ...
- Take a warm bath or shower.
How can I lower my blood pressure before an insurance exam?
Skip your morning coffee, as it can elevate your blood pressure. Drink water. Drink a glass of water or two before your exam. Drinking water before a blood pressure test can help lower sodium levels but don't overdo it.
High blood pressure is not heart disease on its own. However, having high blood pressure can lead to cardiovascular complications and can weaken or damage your heart. Hypertension is one cause of cardiovascular disease—a term that encompasses the heart and blood vessels.
Most life insurers will offer policies to applicants who admit to having high blood pressure. It's only when the blood pressure is uncontrolled and the readings are too severe will the insurer decline. With this as an industry standard practice it's not common for a death claim to be denied for high blood pressure.
If it's still very high, seek medical care. Call 911 or emergency medical services if your blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or greater and you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or symptoms of stroke. Stroke symptoms include numbness or tingling, trouble speaking, or changes in vision.
A hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency that causes your blood pressure to rise above 180/120 rapidly. If your blood pressure gets too high, it can cause damage to your organs and other potentially life-threatening complications.
Exercise regularly
Regular physical activity can lower high blood pressure by about 5 to 8 mm Hg . It's important to keep exercising to keep blood pressure from rising again. As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day.
Specifically, the most commonly prescribed blood pressure medications are the ACE inhibitor lisinopril (Prinivil and Zestril), the DHP calcium channel blocker amlodipine (Norvasc), the beta-blocker metoprolol (Lopressor), and the thiazide diuretic hydrochlorothiazide.
You may need to take blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life. But your doctor might be able to reduce or stop your treatment if your blood pressure stays under control for several years. It's really important to take your medicine as directed.
If changes to your lifestyle aren't enough to reduce your blood pressure to a normal level, your doctor will prescribe medicine. Medicine for treatment is often highly successful. If your blood pressure can only be controlled with medicine, you'll likely need to take the medicine for the rest of your life.
There is no cure for high blood pressure. But treatment can lower blood pressure that is too high. If it is mild, high blood pressure may sometimes be brought under control by making changes to a healthier lifestyle.
What can trigger hypertension?
- are overweight.
- eat too much salt and do not eat enough fruit and vegetables.
- do not do enough exercise.
- drink too much alcohol or coffee (or other caffeine-based drinks)
- smoke.
- have a lot of stress.
- are over 65.
- have a relative with high blood pressure.
Drinking water can help normalize blood pressure. If you are dehydrated, it can also help lower blood pressure. Drinking water is not a treatment for high blood pressure but it can help you sustain healthier blood pressure, whether you have hypertension or not.
120 to 129/less than 80 (Elevated): You probably don't need medication. 130/80 to 139/89 (stage 1 hypertension): You might need medication. 140/90 or higher (stage 2 hypertension): You probably need medication.
That's the pressure in your blood vessels while your heart is pumping. The bottom number is called the diastolic blood pressure and that's the pressure when your heart rests between beats. You want your blood pressure to stay at 120 over 80 or less. A blood pressure of 140 over 90 or more is considered high.
But bouts of anxiety can trigger temporary rises in blood pressure. Temporary rises in blood pressure that happen often, such as every day, can damage the blood vessels, heart and kidneys. This is the same type of damage seen in people with long-term hypertension.
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