Hypertension

One in every two American adults has high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Half have the condition safely under control. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack and stroke for others. At Low Cost Health Clinics with seven offices in Anaheim, Riverside, Santa Ana, Corona, Costa Mesa, Cathedral City, and Indio, California, skilled providers Shruti Patel, MD, Jose Ruiz, PA-C, and Roberto Guillen, PA, help patients control blood pressure so they can stay active and healthy for years to come. Call or go online to book your appointment. Or walk into the nearest office, no appointment necessary.

What is hypertension?

Hypertension is another name for abnormally high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood against artery walls. That force typically increases and decreases throughout the day. 

However, if it remains too high for too long, it causes serious health problems.

Hypertension is especially dangerous because it has no symptoms. Only after measuring blood pressure do patients learn it’s too high. Without management, hypertension:

• Causes heart disease, failure, and attack
• Increases the risk of chronic kidney disease
• Increases the risk of a debilitating or fatal stroke

It’s for those outcomes that hypertension is often called a “silent killer.”

What causes hypertension?

Some medical conditions increase the risk of developing hypertension. Patients with prehypertension have blood pressure that’s slightly higher than average for developing high blood pressure and its associated health problems. Many diabetes patients also have high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart disease.

Particular lifestyle choices also increase the risk of hypertension, including:

• Excess body fat
• Lack of physical activity
• Poor diet and nutrition
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Tobacco use

Hypertension and high cholesterol are linked. Cholesterol plaque and calcium cause your arteries to become narrow and hard. So, your heart has to strain much harder to pump blood through them. As a result, blood pressure can become too high.

Your Low Cost Health Clinics provider can explain how conditions and issues are related and teach you to manage them better.

How is hypertension controlled?

Low Cost Health Clinics believes a healthy lifestyle is the best defense against high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and other problematic health conditions. A healthy lifestyle includes:

• Maintaining a healthy diet
• Weight management
• Regular exercise
• Minimal alcohol
• Living tobacco-free

Medications can lower blood pressure, and most have none or very few side effects. You should only take these drugs as directed, even if your blood pressure comes down and you are feeling good. Don’t discontinue taking high blood pressure medication without your provider’s approval.

Patients with hypertension can live a full and healthy life with proper management, good habits, and medication (if needed). 

If you or a loved one has hypertension, high blood pressure, or a health condition that increases the risk of its development, call any of Low Cost Health Clinics’ seven offices to schedule an appointment or book online today. Walk-ins are also welcome.