Hypertension Management

What is hypertension?

Hypertension is another word for high blood pressure, which occurs when the force of your blood against the walls of your arteries is higher than it should be. It often develops because of plaque buildup along the walls of your arteries, which causes them to become narrow. 

Secondary hypertension is high blood pressure that develops because of an underlying health condition or medication. You might have hypertension because of:

• Sleep apnea
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Thyroid problems
• Adrenal gland problems
• Birth control pills
• Nasal decongestants
• Over-the-counter pain relievers

Since hypertension typically doesn't present symptoms, your doctor measures your blood pressure to check for it at every visit. 

What does hypertension management involve?

Houston Kidney Specialists Center specializes in hypertension management to help you avoid complications from hypertension. To help you manage your blood pressure effectively, the team at Houston Kidney Specialists Center might recommend:

Diet and lifestyle changes

In some cases, changing your diet and habits eliminates the need for further treatment for hypertension. Reducing sodium in your diet, eating plenty of potassium, finding effective stress management, and avoiding smoking can help lower your blood pressure.

Medications

There are many available medications to reduce blood pressure. The team at Houston Kidney Specialists Center might prescribe one or more of them as part of your plan. 

Treatment for underlying conditions

Treating underlying conditions causing hypertension is often the key to lowering your blood pressure. For example, treating kidney disease improves your kidney function and helps them regulate your blood pressure more effectively.

Why is hypertension management essential?

It’s important to manage your hypertension and regularly monitor your blood pressure throughout treatment because of hypertension complications. Over time and without effective management, hypertension can cause:

• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Aneurysm
• Stroke
• Cognitive problems
• Reduced kidney function
• Eye problems

The damage from hypertension gets worse, the longer you go without treatment. You might not even realize that you have high blood pressure until it starts causing serious health problems. 

Thankfully, making healthy changes in your life can make a big difference, and managing your hypertension with treatment can significantly reduce your risk of life-threatening cardiovascular complications.

If you have hypertension or are at risk, call Houston Kidney Specialists Center, or book a consultation online for hypertension management.