High Blood Pressure Specialist

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure happens when the force of the blood pressing against your artery walls is higher than it should be. High blood pressure can cause resistance in arterial blood flow and make your heart work harder than it should. Complications associated with untreated high blood pressure include heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and heart failure.

What are the risk factors for high blood pressure?

High blood pressure can happen to anyone, but certain genetic and lifestyle factors increase your risk of developing it. Examples include:

• Family history of high blood pressure
• A sedentary lifestyle
• Overweight or obesity
• Older age
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol
• A high sodium diet
• A low potassium diet
• Stress
• Chronic diseases
• Pregnancy

If you’re at risk of high blood pressure, or you have other chronic disease risk factors, schedule routine health screenings with the Advanced Cardiovascular Consultants team.

What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?

Most people don’t experience any symptoms with high blood pressure. That’s why routine screening is so important. If you develop symptoms, such as shortness of breath, headaches, or nosebleeds, your blood pressure may have reached dangerously high levels.

How does my provider diagnose high blood pressure?

To diagnose high blood pressure, your vascular specialist reviews your medical history and asks about symptoms you may have. They measure blood pressure using an inflatable arm cuff and a pressure-measuring gauge. You can monitor your own blood pressure at home, too, if you have the right equipment.

What are my high blood pressure treatment options?

Your cardiologist may recommend common high blood pressure treatments, such as:

Lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes that may help lower blood pressure naturally include getting regular exercise, eating a lower-sodium diet rich in fruits and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, reducing stress, and limiting or avoiding alcohol.

Medications

Numerous medications can reduce high blood pressure if your levels are high, and lifestyle changes haven’t worked. Your cardiologist develops a medication regimen that’s right for you and makes adjustments to your treatment plan as needed.

Take control of your health with routine blood pressure screenings to evaluate your health and heart disease risk factors. Schedule an appointment with the cardiologists at Advanced Cardiovascular Consultants over the phone or online today.