Hypertension
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Houston Internal Medicine Associates PA
Board Certified Internal Medicine & Primary Care located in Houston, Katy, & Cypress, TX
Experts call hypertension, aka high blood pressure, the “silent killer” because it can wreak havoc on your health before you even know you have it. To stop hypertension in its tracks, book an appointment with Lakshmi Reddy, MD, at Houston Internal Medicine Associates PA, with locations in Cypress, Houston, and Katy, Texas. Dr. Reddy can check you for hypertension, and help you manage it. Don’t let hypertension get the jump on you. Instead, book an appointment online or over the phone today.
Hypertension Q & A
What is hypertension?
Hypertension, more commonly known as high blood pressure, is the chronic elevation of the blood pressure in your arteries. Hypertension affects over 100 million American adults every year.
Hypertension is dangerous in many ways. First, in order to move blood through your circulatory system, hypertension forces your heart to work harder.
It also builds up plaque, a hard residue, along the walls of your blood vessels. This not only damages them but also narrows your arteries. Narrowed or clogged arteries make it even harder for your heart to pump blood through your body.
If you don’t address hypertension, it can potentially lead to serious complications, including:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Aneurysm
- Heart failure
- Irregular heartbeat
- Dementia
- Cognitive decline
- Vision loss
High blood pressure can also contribute to various types of organ damage.
Who gets high blood pressure?
Generally speaking, the older you are, the more likely you are to develop high blood pressure. Also, members of the African-American community have a much higher rate of high blood pressure than others, which often appears at an earlier age, with more severity.
Certain lifestyle choices exponentially increase your risk. You’re particularly at a higher risk for hypertension if you:
Smoke
Abuse alcohol or drugs
Take certain medications
Eat foods high in sodium and added sugars
People who are overweight or obese are also much more likely to develop hypertension.
Sometimes, hypertension is a secondary condition caused by other conditions, such as:
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Kidney disease
- Diabetes
- Adrenal gland tumors
- Thyroid disease
Also, people can sometimes develop hypertension from congenital birth defects in the heart or other organs.
How do you prevent hypertension complications?
To prevent complications from hypertension, you must proactively address your condition. When you visit Houston Internal Medicine Associates PA, Dr. Reddy helps you put together an action plan designed to do just that.
To understand your unique needs and condition, she starts by discussing your health history, family history, and lifestyle with you.
Based on that discussion, Dr. Reddy creates a plan that includes strategies, such as:
- Exercise
- Nutritional counseling
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Cholesterol monitoring
- Smoking cessation
In addition, Dr. Reddy may prescribe medication, such as a beta-blocker, to assist you in your efforts to control your hypertension.
Hypertension is a serious condition, but with the right choices, you can manage or even eliminate it. Make a change today by booking an appointment online or over the phone at Houston Internal Medicine Associates PA.
