High Blood Pressure

Internal Medicine, Primary Care & Urgent Care located in Palm Desert, CA

High Blood Pressure services offered in Palm Desert, CA

Almost half of Americans 18 and older have high blood pressure. High blood pressure rarely presents symptoms, so it’s crucial to have your blood pressure checked at least once a year. Preventive screenings can alert you to potential problems and keep your heart healthy for years to come. At Palm Desert Urgent Care, internal medicine provider Manzoor Kazi, MD, diagnoses and treats high blood pressure. Make an appointment by calling the practice in Palm Desert, California, or booking online today.

What is high blood pressure?

If the force of the blood pumping through your veins remains too high for an extended period, you have high blood pressure. That increases your risk of more severe health problems, like a heart attack or stroke.

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, has been dubbed the “silent killer” because it often doesn’t present symptoms. You might even have high blood pressure and not know it, so visiting Dr. Kazi at least once a year is a good idea.

What kinds of high blood pressure are there?

Dr. Kazi treats several kinds of high blood pressure, including:

Primary hypertension

Primary high blood pressure comes on gradually as you get older. Often, it’s caused by lifestyle choices like smoking, drinking alcohol, and not getting enough exercise.

Secondary hypertension

Secondary high blood pressure comes on suddenly because of an underlying health problem like heart disease or kidney disease. It’s higher than primary hypertension and requires prescription medication.

When should I get checked for high blood pressure?

Dr. Kazi recommends that everyone 18 and older visits the doctor every two years for a blood pressure screening. More frequent screenings might be necessary if you have a family history of heart disease or other heart-related health problems.

How is high blood pressure diagnosed?

At Palm Desert Urgent Care, Dr. Kazi diagnoses high blood pressure during an in-office visit.

He reviews your medical records and does a physical exam. Then, Dr. Kazi takes your blood pressure with an inflatable cuff and a pressure-measuring gauge. A blood pressure reading features two numbers measured in millimeters of mercury (mm/Hg).

A 120/80 mm/Hg reading is considered normal, while anything between 121-129/80 mm/Hg is deemed to be elevated. If Dr. Kazi determines that you have high blood pressure, he develops a custom treatment plan.

How is high blood pressure treated?

How high blood pressure is treated depends on several things, including your age, how high your blood pressure is, and your general health. Healthy lifestyle changes, like eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and managing your stress, are often enough to lower your blood pressure. Lowering your blood pressure also reduces your risk of heart disease.

If your blood pressure remains elevated, even after these changes, Dr. Kazi will probably recommend prescription medication, including:

Diuretics
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
Angiotensen II receptor blockers
Calcium channel blockers
Alpha-blockers
Beta-blockers

The treatment goal is to keep your blood pressure at a healthy level, reducing your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

To learn more about the treatment of high blood pressure, make an appointment at Palm Desert Urgent Care by calling the office or booking online today.

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