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Hypertension services offered in Bellevue, WA
For too many people, the first sign of hypertension (high blood pressure) is a heart attack or stroke, because the disease doesn’t cause symptoms. The primary care providers at Medical Arts Associates P.S. in Bellevue, Washington, offer routine hypertension screenings and comprehensive treatment plans that lower your risk for the disease and help keep it in the healthy range for the long run. If you need a blood pressure check or ongoing management for existing hypertension, call the office or book an in-person or online appointment today.
Hypertension Q & A
What is hypertension?
Your body continuously regulates your blood pressure, keeping it in a range that’s high enough to push blood through your arteries but not so high it causes damage. You have hypertension when your blood pressure rises above the healthy range.
You can develop high blood pressure for several reasons, depending on whether it’s primary or secondary.
Primary hypertension
Primary hypertension, the most common type by far, develops slowly over years of following an unhealthy lifestyle that includes:
- Consuming too much salt
- Consuming too little potassium
- Not getting regular exercise
- Living with a lot of stress
- Smoking cigarettes
- Being overweight or obese
Each issue in the list raises your blood pressure in different ways. For example, too much salt increases blood volume, which causes hypertension.
Secondary hypertension
Secondary hypertension, which causes 2%-10% of all cases, develops when you have a health condition that raises your blood pressure. A few examples include diabetes, sleep apnea, thyroid disease, and kidney disease.
How will I know I have hypertension?
The only way to know you have hypertension is to have your blood pressure checked. You won’t have symptoms unless you have a rare hypertensive crisis, heart attack, or stroke.
Why is hypertension dangerous to my health?
High blood pressure damages your artery walls, resulting in rough areas where cholesterol can grab hold and accumulate. As the fatty plaque gets larger, the artery narrows and blocks blood flow.
Narrowed arteries, a condition called atherosclerosis, can develop anywhere in your body. However, atherosclerosis most often occurs in your heart, brain, kidneys, and lower legs. When blood flow is substantially blocked, you have a heart attack or stroke.
What treatments improve hypertension?
The Medical Arts Associates P.S. team offers holistic care that helps you restore normal blood pressure and prevent serious complications (if they haven’t already developed). Their treatments include:
- Changing your diet
- Getting regular exercise
- Losing weight
- Stopping smoking
- Treating underlying conditions
- Taking medication when needed
You’ll need medication if your blood pressure has reached an advanced stage at the time it’s diagnosed or lifestyle changes don’t reduce it enough.
If you haven’t had a routine physical, chances are it’s time to have your blood pressure checked. Call Medical Arts Associates P.S., or request an appointment online today to get care for hypertension.