What is hypertension?
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, happens when the force of blood against the walls of your arteries is consistently too high. This extremely common condition affects about 75 million Americans or approximately one in three adults.
High blood pressure develops gradually and may cause serious complications — such as heart disease — over time. Fortunately, Dr. Khedia can easily detect hypertension with routine blood pressure screenings.
Dr. Khedia has extensive experience in managing hypertension and works with you to get your blood pressure under control.
How do I know if I have hypertension?
Hypertension develops gradually and typically doesn’t cause symptoms, so it’s possible to have it for years without knowing. You may not even notice anything is wrong until high blood pressure begins to damage your heart and blood vessels.
The best way to find out if you have hypertension is to see Dr. Khedia for routine preventive care visits. If you have a history of hypertension or other risk factors for the disease, Dr. Khedia may recommend more frequent blood pressure screenings.
What are the risk factors for hypertension?
Many factors may increase your risk of getting hypertension, such as:
- A family history of high blood pressure
- Being overweight or obese
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Tobacco use
- Too much sodium
- Too little potassium
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Stress
Certain medical conditions — such as diabetes or kidney disease — can also increase your risk of hypertension.
What conditions can hypertension lead to?
Without treatment, hypertension can be dangerous. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to many complications, including:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Vision loss
- Heart failure
- Kidney disease or failure
- Sexual dysfunction
- An aneurysm
- Dementia
The higher your blood pressure or longer it remains untreated, the greater potential for serious complications.
How do you diagnose and treat hypertension?
Dr. Khedia can easily diagnose hypertension by measuring your blood pressure. He checks your blood pressure every time you see him, so getting regular check-ups at his practice is important.
If your blood pressure is consistently too high, he develops a treatment plan to control it. Depending on your situation, treatment may include:
- Lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet and exercise
- Stress management
- Medications to lower your blood pressure
Maintaining a healthy blood pressure greatly improves your overall health and wellbeing. To learn more about controlling your blood pressure, call or book an appointment online.
