One in three people in the United States have high blood pressure, a common but potentially dangerous condition that increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. At Mariposa Medical Associates in Smyrna, Georgia, board-certified internist Faye Vargas, MD, and her team of experts can help you manage your blood pressure, or hypertension, and lead a healthy, active lifestyle. For more information, call the team at Mariposa Medical Associates or book an appointment online.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a serious condition in which the force of blood pushing against your artery walls increases for an extended period of time. While it’s normal for your blood pressure to rise and fall throughout the day, when it’s high for too long it can cause damage to your heart.
If you have primary hypertension, there’s likely no identifiable cause of your high blood pressure. Primary hypertension tends to develop gradually over time, so it’s important to visit Mariposa Medical Associates routinely for checkups.
Many people have hypertension that’s caused by an underlying condition. Secondary hypertension occurs suddenly and causes higher blood pressure than its primary counterpart. Some common causes of secondary hypertension include:
You’re at a higher risk of developing hypertension if you are over the age of 65, African American, overweight, chronically stressed, or if you have a family history of high blood pressure.
The most common symptoms of high blood pressure are:
Untreated hypertension increases your risk of kidney failure and heart disease. Call your doctor right away if you experience any of the above symptoms.
There are many ways to treat hypertension, including:
Lifestyle changes can have a significant effect on your overall health if you have hypertension. Some common changes the Mariposa Medical Associates team recommends are:
In many cases, a healthy diet and fitness routine are enough to lower your blood pressure to a healthy level. Unfortunately, lifestyle changes aren’t always enough.
In that case, Mariposa Medical Associates may recommend one or more of the following medications:
With help from an experienced, board-certified physician, you can get your blood sugar under control. To schedule an appointment with Mariposa Medical Associates, call or book online today.
