High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is one of the most common health problems affecting American adults. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most deadly. Left unmanaged, high blood pressure significantly increases your risk of a stroke or heart attack. At Coastal Medical Group in Webster and Houston, Texas, the team regularly works with patients to diagnose and treat high blood pressure. To request your appointment, call the office nearest you or click the online booking tool today.
High Blood Pressure Q & A
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a common condition that occurs when the force of the blood pumping through your arteries is consistently too high. Over time, high blood pressure causes your arteries to narrow and your heart to beat faster.
Ultimately, this damages your blood vessels and heart. Left unmanaged, high blood pressure significantly increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, or premature death. Fortunately, if your doctor detects high blood pressure early on, it’s also easy to manage and treat.
In its early stages, high blood pressure doesn’t always present symptoms. As a result, it’s called the “silent killer.” As your blood pressure increases, you might experience symptoms such as headaches, nosebleeds, or shortness of breath.
However, these symptoms aren’t condition-specific and usually don’t occur until your blood pressure reaches an elevated, life-threatening stage.
Everyone over the age of 18 should have their blood pressure monitored at least once every two years. If you’re 40 or older, you should participate in a blood pressure screening at least once a year.
You should also visit the doctor if you have a family history of high blood pressure. The sooner you detect the problem, the easier it is to both manage and treat.
To diagnose high blood pressure, your Coastal Medical Group provider places an inflatable cuff around your arm and measures your blood pressure with a pressure-measuring gauge.
Your doctor displays your blood pressure reading in millimeters over mercury (mm Hg). A healthy, normal blood pressure reading is 120/80 mm Hg or lower.
Treatment for high blood pressure depends on the severity of your symptoms. Whenever possible, the team at Coastal Medical Group uses conservative measures of treatment.
For example, they might recommend healthy lifestyle changes such as eating a nutritious, well-balanced diet, and exercising more regularly. If your blood pressure remains high, your doctor might prescribe medication therapy and monitoring.
To learn more about your treatment options for high blood pressure, make an appointment at Coastal Medical Group by calling the office nearest you or clicking the online booking tool today.