Hypertension Specialist

What is hypertension?

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common condition that occurs when the force of your blood pushing up against your artery walls is high enough to cause health problems, such as heart disease. Your blood pressure is measured in two numbers: systolic pressure and diastolic pressure.

Systolic pressure measures the pressure of blood against your artery walls when your heart beats. Diastolic pressure measures the pressure between each beat. A normal blood pressure reading is anything with a systolic pressure below 120 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) and a diastolic pressure below 80 mm Hg. The reading is given with the systolic pressure listed above the diastolic pressure.

Hypertension generally takes many years to develop. It’s easy for Dr. Chane to detect it, and once you know you have the condition, you can work to manage and control it, limiting your risk of more serious health problems that can arise, including heart attack and stroke.

How do I know if I have hypertension?

You can actually have hypertension for years without noticing any signs or symptoms, which has earned it the nickname “the silent killer.” In some cases, you may notice symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue, or nosebleeds, but these aren't specific and typically don't occur until hypertension is at a life-threatening stage. The only way to detect hypertension is to receive a blood pressure test.

Who is at risk of developing hypertension?

Since there are rarely any signs or symptoms associated with the onset of hypertension, it’s important to know who’s at risk. Hypertension has many risk factors, such as:

• Age, particularly if you’re over 65
• Family history of hypertension
• Being obese or overweight
• An inactive lifestyle, lack of exercise
• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• A diet high in sodium
• A diet low in potassium
• Alcohol abuse
• Stress
  
  

Many different underlying chronic conditions can also increase your risk of developing hypertension, including diabetes, kidney failure, and sleep apnea.

How is hypertension treated?

To measure your blood pressure, Dr. Chane or a team member places an inflatable cuff around your arm. The cuff is connected to a gauge that measures your blood pressure as the cuff is tightened around your arm. A hypertension diagnosis with either be elevated, stage 1, or stage 2, depending on your reading.

A major part of hypertension treatment and management is lifestyle modification counseling. Dr. Chane and his team help you incorporate exercise and new diet strategies into your routine.

Among the common changes they recommend are lowering your sodium intake and boosting the amount of potassium in your diet. Managing medications, such as calcium channel blockers and thiazide diuretics, can also help manage your hypertension.

Call or schedule an appointment online today to learn more about hypertension and how you can manage this common condition.