Hypertension

Hypertension is a serious chronic disease that doesn’t always receive the attention it deserves. Muhammad Gondal, MD, FCCP, at Adult Health & Wellness Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, specializes in the prevention and management of high blood pressure. To learn more about your blood pressure, book a visit online or by phone at your earliest convenience.  

What is hypertension?

Hypertension is the term used to refer to high blood pressure. The best way to understand your blood pressure is to think about how your heart moves blood throughout your system.

Every time your heart beats, it pumps oxygenated blood into your arteries. That pumping action places force on the arterial walls, measured as your systolic blood pressure. The force present in the pause between heartbeats is calculated as your diastolic blood pressure.

These readings are displayed as systolic/diastolic. Readings at or below 120/80 are considered normal. Once your readings exceed 130/80, you have high blood pressure, and as those readings rise, so does your risk of serious health consequences. 

What are some health risks linked to hypertension?

According to extensive research, living with high blood pressure places your body under enormous strain. Hypertension negatively affects virtually every organ and system in your body. 

Some of the health risks you face when you have high blood pressure include:  

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• Aneurysm
• Cognitive issues
• Metabolic syndrome
• Dementia
• Kidney problems
• Sexual dysfunction

These are just a few of the health issues you might experience if you live with high blood pressure over time. Reducing your readings reduces your risk. 

What are some treatments for high blood pressure and hypertension?

Fortunately, numerous ways can bring your blood pressure down to healthier levels. Medications can help and are often a promising approach for people with extremely high blood pressure or other chronic health conditions. 

Drug therapy should never be the sole approach, however. Lifestyle modifications offer a powerful way to reduce high blood pressure and improve how you feel and function every day. 

You can also improve your nutrition by replacing highly processed foods with more fruit, vegetables, and healthy fats to give your body the micronutrients it needs to thrive. 

You should also get plenty of exercise. Achieving results doesn’t take aggressive workouts; even a daily walk can reduce blood pressure. Getting plenty of sleep and finding ways to reduce stress are also helpful. 

When you’re ready to learn more, call Adult Health & Wellness Center to schedule a visit, or book online in just a few clicks.