High Blood Pressure

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure occurs when the force of the blood pumping through your arteries remains consistently high. It doesn’t always present symptoms because it tends to develop slowly over time.

High blood pressure can increase your risk of more serious health problems, but it’s possible to manage, and in some cases, reverse. Dr. Jones-Parks can develop a custom treatment plan that includes a combination of healthy lifestyle changes and prescription medication.

What are the types of high blood pressure?

High blood pressure falls into two categories, including:

Primary hypertension

Primary hypertension develops gradually as you get older. It’s the most common type of high blood pressure and rarely presents symptoms.

Secondary hypertension

Secondary hypertension occurs due to an underlying medical condition, like obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid problems, or kidney disease. It develops suddenly and is often more serious than primary hypertension.

Who is at risk of high blood pressure?

Anyone can experience high blood pressure, but several factors increase your risk, including:

• Being 65 or older
• Having family members with high blood pressure
• Living a sedentary lifestyle
• Weight issue
• Eating a diet that’s high in salt
• Drinking too much alcohol

You’re also more likely to experience high blood pressure if you’re regularly stressed or anxious.

How is high blood pressure diagnosed?

To diagnose high blood pressure, Dr. Jones-Parks wraps an inflatable cuff around your arm and uses a pressure-measuring gauge. Any reading of 120/80 mm/Hg or lower means your blood pressure is normal. A reading that’s higher indicates high blood pressure.

If you have high blood pressure, Dr. Jones-Parks might also order additional tests, like an electrocardiogram or an echocardiogram, to check for conditions that increase the risk of a cardiovascular event, like a heart attack or a stroke.

How is high blood pressure treated?

Often, healthy lifestyle changes are enough to keep your blood pressure in check. For example, Dr. Jones-Parks might recommend:

• Eating a diet with little or no salt
• Exercising regularly
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Limiting the amount of alcohol you drink

If your blood pressure remains elevated even after these changes, you might benefit from prescription medication. There are several types of medicine used to treat high blood pressure, including diuretics, calcium channel blockers, and alpha-blockers.

Dr. Jones-Parks can make recommendations that align with your medical history and needs.

To receive treatment for high blood pressure, make an appointment at The Healthy Woman by calling the nearest office or clicking the online booking feature today.