High Blood Pressure

About 116 million people in the United States have high blood pressure and are at increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and other serious health complications. At Stanton Family Clinic in Stanton, Kentucky, the medical team offers routine blood pressure screenings in-office to identify high blood pressure in the earliest stages. They design individual treatment plans to lower your blood pressure levels and keep them in a healthy range in the long term. Call the office to schedule a high blood pressure evaluation or book an appointment online today.

What is high blood pressure?

Your blood pressure is the measurement of the force of your blood against the walls of your arteries. When you have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, it means your blood pressure is high enough to damage the walls of your blood vessels.

There are two types of high blood pressure:

Primary hypertension

Primary hypertension describes high blood pressure that develops for no identifiable reason. This condition typically develops gradually over many years.

Secondary hypertension

Secondary hypertension develops from an underlying health issue. Conditions that can elevate your blood pressure levels include kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and thyroid disorders.

You can also develop secondary hypertension if you take hormonal birth control or use certain medications.

How do I know if I have high blood pressure?

You can have high blood pressure for years without knowing it. Only when damage occurs in your blood vessels will symptoms like shortness of breath and headaches develop.

For this reason, you should schedule routine blood pressure screenings at Stanton Family Clinic. The team offers blood pressure checks during annual wellness exams, and they may recommend more frequent screenings if you have risk factors for hypertension such as:

• Family history
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Smoking history
• Weight challenges
• High-salt diet
• Excessive alcohol use

You may also need to check your blood pressure levels at home, especially if you’re over 64.

How is high blood pressure treated?

Your treatment plan for high blood pressure may initially involve diet changes and increased daily exercise to lower your blood pressure levels naturally. You may also need to follow a weight management plan to reach a healthy body mass index (BMI).

If your blood pressure remains high, the Stanton Family Clinic team can prescribe medications to relax your arteries and improve blood circulation. Medications are also available to help your kidneys eliminate excess fluids from your body.

You can expect to schedule regular follow-up appointments with the team, so they can monitor your blood pressure levels and ensure that your treatment is working.

If it’s been more than a year since you had your blood pressure checked, call Stanton Family Clinic for a blood pressure screening or book an appointment online today.