About one-third of American adults, or 100 million people, have high blood pressure. Left unmanaged, high blood pressure increases your risk for serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke. At his practice in El Centro, California, internal medicine physician Prabhdeep Singh, MD, FACP, has years of experience diagnosing and treating high blood pressure and heart disease. If you want to improve your cardiovascular health, request an appointment today by calling the office or clicking the online booking tool.
High blood pressure is a chronic condition that occurs when the force of the blood pumping against the walls of your arteries is too high for an extended period of time.
When you have elevated blood pressure for months, or even years, it takes a toll on your heart and circulatory system.
High blood pressure doesn’t present any obvious symptoms. In fact, its nickname is the “silent killer.” Fortunately, participating in annual physical exams and regularly checking your numbers can significantly lower your risk of heart disease.
The symptoms of heart disease vary from person to person. In addition, there are several conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol that present no symptoms at all.
Telltale signs of heart disease include:
If you have heart disease, you might also experience pain, weakness, or numbness in your arms and legs, especially during physical activity.
High blood pressure and heart disease affect people of all races and backgrounds, but there are certain factors that may increase your risk, including:
You’re also more likely to experience high blood pressure and heart disease if you live a sedentary lifestyle and don’t exercise regularly.
To diagnose high blood pressure, Dr. Singh uses a pressure cuff called a sphygmomanometer. A blood pressure reading features two numbers: your systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Systolic blood pressure measures the pressure your blood exerts on the walls of your arteries during heartbeats. Diastolic blood pressure measures the pressure your blood exerts on the walls of your arteries between beats.
The American Heart Association considers a reading of 120/80 mm Hg or lower healthy, meaning you have a low risk of heart disease.
Treatment for high blood pressure and heart disease depends on the severity of the condition. When possible, Dr. Singh recommends conservative measures of care, such as losing weight, eating a balanced diet, quitting smoking, and exercising more regularly.
If your blood pressure remains high, Dr. Singh might recommend prescription medications like thiazide diuretics or alpha blockers to help keep your numbers in check.
To learn more about preventing heart disease and high blood pressure, make an appointment with Dr. Singh today by calling the office or clicking the online scheduling tool.
