Nearly half of adults in the United States have high blood pressure, and many don’t realize it. Stuart Alexander, MD, is a primary care physician with more than 40 years of experience managing chronic conditions like high blood pressure. To reduce your risks of serious health complications due to high blood pressure, call Posture Perfect Wellness Center or schedule an appointment online today.
You have high blood pressure, or hypertension, when your blood pressure is elevated for extended periods of time.
The action of your heart pushing oxygen-rich blood throughout your body puts force on your blood vessels, this is called blood pressure. If this pressure remains high, your heart and blood vessels work harder and less efficiently.
When blood pressure remains raised, tears begin to occur in your arteries because of the strain. These areas of damage allow plaque and LDL (bad) cholesterol to build up, causing your arteries to narrow. As your arteries become more narrow, your heart is forced to work even harder, and your blood pressure continues to rise.
There are two types of high blood pressure. Essential, or primary, hypertension, develops slowly without an apparent cause. Secondary hypertension is due to another issue, such as:
High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because there are usually no symptoms until serious damage occurs.
High blood pressure puts stress on your heart and increases your risk of several health complications, including:
High blood pressure also raises your risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. If you have high cholesterol as well as hypertension, your risk of heart disease is even higher.
Dr. Alexander takes a comprehensive approach to managing high blood pressure that uses a combination of medication and lifestyle changes.
Following your physical exam that includes a personal and family medical history, Dr. Alexander might recommend:
High blood pressure is a chronic condition that requires management over time. In addition to your treatment, Dr. Alexander also tracks your progress through regular physical exams, which might include electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and stress tests.
We service patients from all over the DFW area including North Dallas, Addison, Carrollton, Plano, Garland, Irving, Allen, Richardson, and University Park, Highland Park, Frisco and McKinney.
For help managing your high blood pressure and protecting your heart, call Posture Perfect Wellness Center or schedule an appointment online today.
