Hypertension Treatment in Saint Petersburg, FL
Hypertension is another word for high blood pressure. When a doctor tests your blood pressure, they are looking for two things. They are monitoring how much blood your heart is pumping, and how much resistance that blood is facing within your arteries.
The more blood your heart has to pump, and the narrower your arteries are, the higher your blood pressure will be. A normal blood pressure measurement is 120 over 80. Anything at or above 140 over 90 indicates the onset of hypertension.
Symptoms of Hypertension
Blood tests are recommended at least every other year for patients age 18 and over. The reason for this is that having high blood pressure usually doesn't lead to any noticeable symptoms.
When symptoms do finally become apparent, it usually means that the condition has reached a potentially life threatening level. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact a health care professional immediately:
- Severe headaches
- Mental confusion
- Blurred vision
- Frequent nosebleeds
The other type is called secondary hypertension. This condition appears suddenly and is usually more severe than primary hypertension. It is usually caused by an underlying condition, such as:
- Kidney problems
- Adrenal gland tumors
- Congenital defects in the blood vessels
- Menopause
Here is a list of other factors that may contribute to high blood pressure:
- Age
- Family medical history
- Being overweight
- Not exercising
- Using tobacco
- Excess of sodium
- Deficiency of potassium
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Stress
- Chronic health issues such as high cholesterol , diabetes , kidney disease, or sleep apnea.
- Pregnancy
Risks of Hypertension
If left untreated, hypertension can lead to a number of severe health issues. Some of these include:
- Memory problems
- Metabolic syndrome
- Kidney problems
- Vision loss
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Aneurysm
- Heart failure
Hypertension Treatment
Doctors treat hypertension from a number of angles to assure that your blood pressure is kept in check. The first step to treating high blood pressure properly is to detect it early, which is why regular blood pressure screenings are often recommended.
Your doctor may prescribe medication to treat your condition, but this is always followed by a number of other techniques. Advanced testing will likely be used to determine the underlying cause of the hypertension in the hopes of treating it without blood pressure medication.
Some hypertension treatment plans include together a fitness program to help you lose weight , as well offering diet plans that reduce the amount of sodium you consume. Relaxation techniques that can help you relieve tension and reduce any stress that could potentially lead to hypertension are also sometimes recommended.
Lower Your Blood Pressure
Hypertension can be debilitating and even life threatening. If you're struggling with high blood pressure, don't hesitate to call (727) 826-0838 or contact us online to discuss hypertension treatment options.
Peaks of Health Metabolic Medical Center
Address
1120 S Belcher RdSuite 2
Largo, FL 33771
(727) 826-0838
www.peaksofhealth.com
Hours
Mon:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tue:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wed:
7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thu:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Fri:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm