What is high blood pressure?
When your heart pumps oxygenated blood throughout your body’s vessels, it exerts pressure on the walls of those vessels. If this pressure remains elevated for a prolonged period of time, you have high blood pressure.
Also known as essential hypertension, high blood pressure puts stress on your heart and blood vessels. This stress causes damage to your blood vessels, where cholesterol plaque can form. As buildup occurs, your arteries grow narrow and your blood pressure rises even more.
If your blood pressure remains high for too long, it can lead to serious complications like heart attack or congestive heart failure.
What are the risks of high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is a common condition that can lead to serious health complications, including:
- Stroke
- Aneurysm
- Arrhythmias
- Heart attack
- Kidney disease
- Congestive heart failure
You can reduce your risk of high blood pressure by avoiding unhealthy lifestyle choices that cause the condition.
What causes high blood pressure?
There are two types of high blood pressure. If you have primary hypertension, there’s no apparent cause. While secondary hypertension typically occurs suddenly and is due to another health condition, such as drug or alcohol abuse, thyroid or kidney disorders, and certain medications.
Chronic conditions like kidney disease and diabetes can also increase your risk of high blood pressure. Additional causes of high blood pressure include:
- Smoking
- A family history of HPB
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Being over 65 years of age
- Being overweight or obese
- Stressful or sedentary lifestyles
- Diet high in salt or low in potassium and vitamin D
Dr. Shahbandar works closely with you to evaluate your risks of high blood pressure and to manage your condition before serious complications arise.
How do you treat high blood pressure?
To treat your high blood pressure, Dr. Shahbandar might recommend medication in addition to lifestyle modifications that include:
- Stress management techniques
- Weight management and weight-loss programs
- High fiber, low-fat diets with fruits and vegetables
- Exercise plans to increase activity and cardiac health
Dr. Shahbandar closely monitors your high blood pressure through regular testing that might include ambulatory monitors, echocardiograms, and electrocardiograms.
For help managing your high blood pressure, call Shahbandar Heart Clinic or schedule an appointment online today.
