What is hypertension?
Hypertension, also called high blood pressure, usually develops over several years without any symptoms. It often goes undetected until it reaches dangerous levels, so it’s vital that you don't miss your routine preventive appointments where the staff checks your blood pressure.
Blood pressure is a measure of the force of your blood against the artery walls. High blood pressure places excess force on your blood vessels, causing damage to the arteries over time.
Dr. Zarreii considers blood pressure readings at 120/80 to be elevated, and three consecutive blood pressure readings over 130/80 meet the criteria for hypertension.
What are the risks of hypertension?
Many doctors refer to high blood pressure as a “silent killer” because it creates critical damage inside your blood vessels without your knowledge. Hypertension puts you at risk for:
- Atherosclerosis: thickening of the arteries
- Heart attack or stroke: a clot blocks blood flow to the heart or brain
- Heart failure: thickening of the heart muscle
- Aneurysm: a life-threatening bulge inside a blood vessel
Besides damaging the heart and blood vessels, high blood pressure can also damage the kidneys and the eyes and affect your mental skills.
What can I do to lower my blood pressure?
Many times, you can make lifestyle modifications to control your blood pressure. These healthy habits include:
- Eating a healthy, low-salt diet
- Regular physical activity
- Losing excess weight
- Stress reduction and relaxation
- Not smoking
Dr. Zarreii can provide more comprehensive information about how to manage your blood pressure at home.
What treatments are available for hypertension?
Dr. Zarreii promotes healthy lifestyle choices to treat hypertension whenever possible. He can help you implement an exercise regimen, quit smoking, and lose weight.
If you’re unable to get your blood pressure under control with these lifestyle modifications, Dr. Zarreii may prescribe medication to help you control your blood pressure. Diuretics, beta-blockers, and ACE inhibitors are among the most common medications for high blood pressure.
If you have hypertension, contact Zarreii Medical and Aesthetics book an appointment online or over the phone to get started on treatment.
