Hypertension is a long term medical condition characterized by elevated blood pressure. While high BP doesn’t cause symptoms, it is considered a major risk factor for developing certain diseases. Often called the “the silent killer,” this illness can lead to Heart failure, vision loss, and chronic kidney disease. Unless you have your vitals checked, you probably won’t know you have it, but it is still affecting you. If you don’t know your blood pressure and haven’t had an annual physical exam recently, contact Montecito Concierge Medicine so that we can take care of you.
What Is Hypertension?
Hypertension is another way to say high blood pressure, and what it means is that your body is working harder than it should to pump blood around your body due to a constriction of the arteries. This can lead to serious heart disease over time and other illnesses over time. Thankfully, proper lifestyle habits such as those recommended by our Santa Barbara team have been shown to be the best means of preventing and managing high BP.
What Types of Hypertension Are There?
Primary hypertension, also known as essential hypertension, builds up over time. It is largely due to poor lifestyle choices, such as overeating, drinking, and smoking. You may have a particular genetic predisposition to high blood pressure. Some people can have a very healthy diet and exercise regimen and still have this problem, while others may eat fatty foods and exercise only casually and not have high blood pressure. Secondary hypertension is a sudden onset disease that may result from a kidney problem, sleep apnea, alcoholism, drug abuse, or thyroid issues, among other causes.
What Are the Symptoms?
Unfortunately, often the first symptom of high blood pressure a person experiences is a heart attack. If you currently have severe hypertension, you may experience dizziness, headaches, chest tightness, chest pain or nose bleeds. If you are having these symptoms, you should contact the doctor immediately. While genetics can play a role, a poor diet, lack of exercise, drinking, and smoking are all major risk factors that can contribute to this illness.
How Do We Treat High Blood Pressure at Montecito Concierge Medicine?
The first thing we will do is provide an evaluation so we can learn if you have a history of heart disease or other risk factors. We will test your blood pressure. If we find that you have high blood pressure, we will use the information you give us about your lifestyle and family history to prescribe blood pressure lowering medications, get you on a proper diet, weight loss, and exercise plan, or most likely, all of these.
Treating Hypertension in Santa Barbara
A full checkup and workup is part of your Montecito Concierge Medicine membership. We will learn your physical health if you have hypertension or any other health issues and immediately start working with you to develop a plan to address them. To get started, call us up at (805) 892-6500 or click the link below to request a FREE 15 minute consultation with Dr. Alan J. Viglione. We look forward to helping you enjoy the best of health!