High Blood Pressure Specialist

Why is high blood pressure a concern?

Having high blood pressure (hypertension) means that there’s too much force from blood on the walls of your arteries, vessels, and veins. High blood pressure is a medical concern because it can lead to:

• Narrowed blood arteries (atherosclerosis)
• Kidney damage
• Vision loss 
• Heart attack
• Aneurysm 
• Dementia 
• Stroke 

High blood pressure can even increase your risk of metabolic syndrome, which is a group of disorders that impact your body’s metabolism and overall health. Metabolic syndrome increases your risk of high cholesterol, which can clog and further narrow your arteries. 

Why do I have high blood pressure?

High blood pressure doesn’t cause any significant symptoms, which is why medical professionals often nickname it the “silent killer.” Ideally, your blood pressure should be below 120/80 mm Hg for optimal heart health. 

Your doctor at Katy Internists may diagnose you with prehypertension once your blood pressure goes above 120/80 mm Hg, or full-blown hypertension if your blood pressure is higher than 130/80 mm Hg. In any case, if your blood pressure is high, it could be related to:

• Family history of high blood pressure
• Being overweight or obese
• Excess dietary sodium
• Tobacco usage 
• Older age 
• Stress 

High cholesterol is a concern, too. Since high blood cholesterol doesn’t cause any obvious symptoms, and it’s just as likely to affect your heart health as hypertension, your dedicated practitioner at Katy Internists is probably going to check your cholesterol levels regularly. 

How is high blood pressure treated?

Treating high blood pressure usually involves combining lifestyle changes and medications. Your physician at Katy Internists may recommend:

• Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH diet), to include sodium restrictions
• High blood pressure drugs to relax vessels or reduce force from your heart
• Getting more exercise into your daily routine
• Limiting your alcohol intake 
• Weight loss management
• Diuretic medications 

If you also have high cholesterol, such as a total cholesterol over 200 mm/dL, the lifestyle changes you need to make to bring down your blood pressure are equally as beneficial for your cholesterol. Your doctor at Katy Internists can prescribe statins, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, or other types of medications to lower your blood cholesterol and further improve your heart health.

If you have high blood pressure or cholesterol, the medical team at Katy Internists can help. Schedule your evaluation online today or call the clinic to speak with a team member. 

Additional Patient Info:

Blood Pressure Tracker- Instructions

Controlling Your Blood Pressure Through Lifestyle

High Blood Pressure, Diet, and Weight

High Blood Pressure in Adults 

Hypertension FAQ

How to Improve My Blood Pressure

The Salty Six Infographic

What Is High Blood Pressure?

What Is High Blood Pressure? (Chart)