High Blood Pressure

Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston

Cardiologists located in Houston, TX & Cypress, TX

An estimated half of the adults in the United States have high blood pressure, and many don’t even know it. At the Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston, with offices in Houston and North Cypress, Texas, the cardiologists offer routine blood pressure checks to help you manage your heart health. Whether you need to make lifestyle modifications or require medication to lower your blood pressure, they customize your treatment to your unique needs. Call the Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston to schedule a consultation for high blood pressure. You can also request an appointment online today.

High Blood Pressure Q & A

What is high blood pressure?

Your blood pressure measures the force of your blood against the walls of your arteries. When the force is consistently high, you have high blood pressure or hypertension. Without treatment, high blood pressure can lead to long-term health complications like stroke and heart attack.

There are two types of high blood pressure:

Primary hypertension

Primary hypertension describes high blood pressure with no identifiable reason. This type of blood pressure generally develops over many years.

Secondary hypertension

Secondary hypertension is the result of another underlying health condition. Your blood pressure may be higher than normal because of conditions like:

Sleep apnea
Thyroid disorder
Kidney disease
Blood vessel defects

The use of certain medications, including over-the-counter cold medications, birth control pills, and illegal drugs, can also cause secondary hypertension.

What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is often referred to as the silent killer because you can have the condition for many years without experiencing any symptoms. Only when hypertension causes damage to your heart and blood vessels do you experience symptoms like dizziness, fainting, and frequent headaches.

Because you can have high blood pressure for years without knowing it, it’s essential that you have routine blood pressure checks to monitor your heart health. The Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston offers in-office blood pressure evaluations.

Your cardiologist may recommend that you check your levels at home on a regular basis if you have risk factors for hypertension, such as being overweight, having a family history of the condition, or are of advanced age.

How is high blood pressure treated?

The initial treatment for high blood pressure is lifestyle changes that help reduce your blood pressure levels naturally. This may involve:

Eating a low-salt diet
Getting daily exercise
Losing weight

If you have secondary hypertension, your Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston cardiologist can collaborate with your other physicians to ensure your underlying health issue is well-controlled.

When lifestyle changes aren’t enough to lower your blood pressure, you may need to take medications. Your cardiologist may prescribe diuretics to remove excess fluid from your body or medications to relax your blood vessels and improve your circulation.

If you need help managing high blood pressure, call the Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston office nearest you or request a consultation online today.