Almost 50% of all adults in the United States have hypertension, which can silently cause damage to your heart, kidneys, brain, and other organs without long-term management. At The Doctor’s House in West New York, New Jersey, Daniel Maenner, DO, can recommend healthy lifestyle changes and prescribe medications to lower your blood pressure to a safer level. To learn more about hypertension and its effects on your body, call the office or book an appointment online today.
What is hypertension?
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a symptomless condition characterized by excessive force pressing against the walls of your blood vessels as blood pumps through them.
The longer you go without managing your blood pressure, the more likely you are to experience dangerous cardiovascular health complications as a result. However, the lack of symptoms makes it especially risky.
Each time you visit The Doctor’s House, your provider checks your blood pressure as part of a basic physical exam. If they find that your blood pressure is high, they can perform an assessment to determine which type of blood pressure you have.
These types have different underlying causes:
Primary hypertension
Primary hypertension is a stand-alone condition. It develops gradually over many years with no clear cause or defect behind it. Factors like stress, an unhealthy diet, and a lack of physical activity can all contribute to primary hypertension.
Secondary hypertension
Secondary hypertension comes from an identifiable underlying condition or behavior. You can get secondary hypertension from sleep apnea, kidney problems, certain prescription medications, or illicit drug use.
What are the possible complications of hypertension?
Without treatment, hypertension can lead to numerous health issues. Many of them can even be life-threatening. The pressure against the walls of your veins and arteries can cause damage to your organs.
A few possible complications from high blood pressure are:
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Stroke
- Aneurysm
- Dementia
- Vision loss
- Metabolic syndrome
- Kidney malfunction
- Cognitive problems
If you continue with unhealthy lifestyle factors and behaviors like smoking, drinking alcohol, and physical inactivity, your high blood pressure can worsen and increase your risk of experiencing complications like these.
How can I manage my hypertension?
The team at The Doctor’s House helps you explore ways to reduce your blood pressure, so it doesn’t lead to more serious and less manageable health conditions.
If you have secondary hypertension, one of the most important steps you can take is to manage the condition causing your high blood pressure. If a medication or drug is causing it, your treatment may involve replacing or ceasing it.
In many cases, you can manage your blood pressure just by adjusting your lifestyle. The Doctor’s House might recommend:
- Reducing the sodium in your diet
- Exercising regularly
- Limiting alcohol consumption
- Smoking cessation
- Losing weight
For some, blood pressure medications are necessary. Medications like diuretics, calcium channel blockers, and beta blockers can all help lower your blood pressure in various ways.
The team at The Doctor’s House may prescribe a combination of low-dose medications that work together to manage your hypertension.
If you suspect that you have hypertension, call The Doctor’s House at (201) 869-6220 or book a visit online today.