High Blood Pressure Specialist

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure or hypertension is a condition that can cause some of the most severe, life-threatening conditions there are, including:

• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Kidney failure
• Heart failure

The good news is that a simple blood pressure check can detect high blood pressure before it reaches a serious stage. Having a blood pressure check regularly at Premier Medical Care is essential because high blood pressure doesn’t cause any symptoms. You would never know you had high blood pressure unless you have regular blood pressure checks.

How is blood pressure measured?

Measuring blood pressure is a simple procedure and a routine part of most physical exams at Premier Medical Care. Your provider wraps a blood pressure cuff around your arm and inflates it so that it squeezes the blood vessels. They can then take a reading when your heart is beating (systolic) and in between beats (diastolic).

The systolic and diastolic readings show if you have low, normal, or high blood pressure. Healthy blood pressure readings are 120 or under systolic and 80 or under diastolic. Between 121 and 140 systolic and 81 to 90 diastolic indicates raised blood pressure that needs treating.

High blood pressure over 140 systolic or 90 diastolic is putting your health at serious risk. If your blood pressure goes over 160 systolic or 100 diastolic, you have a very high likelihood of experiencing a heart attack or other life-threatening event.

How is high blood pressure treated?

The main cause of high blood pressure is poor lifestyle habits, so changing your lifestyle is the most effective way to control high blood pressure. Those changes can include:

• Losing weight
• Getting more exercise
• Stopping smoking
• Reducing your salt intake
• Cutting down on alcohol
• Eliminating saturated fats
• Managing your stress

Eating a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables can make a significant difference to your blood pressure. At Premier Medical Care, your experienced providers have specialized expertise in plant-based nutrition. They can help you switch to a plant-based diet that could dramatically affect your overall health.

If your blood pressure is very high, you might need to take medication to reduce it. However, lifestyle changes are the primary approach to dealing with high blood pressure.

Call Premier Medical Care today to arrange a blood pressure screening or book an appointment online.