Hypertension

What is hypertension?

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a chronic health condition in which the force of blood against the blood vessel walls is too high for too long. That excess force damages the blood vessels, causing them to stiffen and narrow.

The stiffening and narrowing of your blood vessels mean your heart has to pump harder to move blood throughout your body, affecting heart health. Hypertension also damages blood vessels, affecting circulation and causing organ damage.

Millions of people have hypertension. Age, family history, and lifestyle are risk factors for this chronic health condition. You can also develop hypertension from other health problems, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD) or sleep apnea. 

How do I know if I have hypertension?

You can’t feel hypertension. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get your blood pressure checked regularly. Every time you visit Dr. King, he checks your blood pressure. 

One higher than normal blood pressure reading doesn’t mean you have hypertension. Dr. King might check your blood pressure more than once during your visit. If he has concerns, he may recommend you check your numbers using an at-home blood pressure monitoring machine.

In general, primary care providers diagnose hypertension when you have three higher than normal blood pressure readings on three separate office visits.  

What are the health complications of hypertension?

When left undiagnosed and untreated, hypertension puts you at risk of developing other health problems. Complications include:

• Heart attack or stroke
• Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
• Heart disease
• Vision changes
• Vascular dementia

Dr. King provides attentive and informative care at his practice because he understands the health consequences of hypertension. He schedules ample time when you come in so he can fully evaluate your health, providing the education you need to improve your blood pressure.

What treatments can help manage hypertension?

Many treatments can help you manage hypertension. Dr. King works closely with you, developing a plan that fits your lifestyle and health needs. Initially, Dr. King focuses on lifestyle changes to lower your blood pressure, such as:

• Eating a heart-healthy diet
• Getting regular exercise
• Losing weight
• Managing stress
• Smoking cessation

He may also prescribe medication to help lower your blood pressure and provide care that improves the management of any underlying health conditions like diabetes or CKD.

Dr. Bryant King is an internal medicine physician who provides compassionate and personable care. To schedule an appointment with a physician who puts your needs first, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.