High blood pressure is a common problem in the United States, affecting nearly half of all adults. If you’re at risk of high blood pressure, or you’ve been diagnosed with it, Ronald Lester, MD, Jessica Nguyen, DO, and their expert team at Kokoro Health & Wellness in Dallas, Texas, are here for you. They can help you manage your condition to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious complications. Call the office or book an appointment online today.
High blood pressure is a chronic condition in which the force against blood vessel walls is too high, putting you at risk of heart disease and other serious problems. The amount of blood your heart pumps and resistance to blood flow in the arteries determines your blood pressure.
Arteries that are narrowed due to plaque buildup often contribute to higher blood pressure.
In most cases, high blood pressure doesn’t produce any noticeable symptoms. If your blood pressure reaches dangerously high levels, however, you may notice shortness of breath, nosebleeds, or headaches.
Because hypertension is often a silent condition, routine blood pressure monitoring is the best way to know if you have high blood pressure.
Yes. While anyone can develop high blood pressure, certain factors boost your risk of having it, including:
Having kidney disease, sleep apnea, or diabetes can increase your risk of developing high blood pressure.
Adopting healthy lifestyle habits is the best way to control your blood pressure.
To find out if you have high blood pressure, your Kokoro Health & Wellness provider uses a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope or blood pressure machine. You need to relax and sit very still while your provider checks your blood pressure, and it’s fast and painless.
If you have high blood pressure, you may also undergo blood tests to assess your blood sugar levels, cholesterol, triglycerides, and other chronic disease risk factors.
Your personalized high blood pressure treatment plan depends on the severity of your condition (how high your blood pressure is).
Common treatments include:
Weight loss, regular exercise, and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables (and lower in sodium) are lifestyle changes that can help reduce high blood pressure naturally. If you smoke, quitting is recommended. You can also limit or avoid alcohol, and keep your stress levels as low as possible.
If lifestyle changes haven’t worked or your blood pressure is dangerously high, prescription medicines can lower your blood pressure numbers to get your condition under control.
The remote patient monitoring available through Kokoro Health & Wellness allows your doctor to monitor your blood pressure when you’re at home.
Don’t let high blood pressure go undetected and cause serious problems for your health. Schedule blood pressure screening at Kokoro Health & Wellness by calling the office or booking an appointment online today.
