Hypertension Q&A

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a disease you wouldn’t know you have unless you go for a blood pressure check. If you haven’t had one lately, visit experienced primary care physician Chinwe Okafor, MD, at Sugarland Primary Care Physicians in Sugarland, Texas. Dr. Okafor can quickly measure your blood pressure and give you the treatment you need if it’s too high. To benefit from expert hypertension treatment, call Sugarland Primary Care Physicians today or book an appointment online.

What is hypertension?

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common problem, but many people don’t know they have it because hypertension doesn’t cause any symptoms. You could have it for years and not realize it until you suffer a heart attack or stroke because your blood pressure has reached such dangerous levels. 

Your blood pressure is a measure of the force at which blood pumps through your arteries. Every time your heart beats, the pumping action forces blood along the arteries, which puts pressure on the artery walls.

Systolic blood pressure is the reading Dr. Okafor takes when your heart beats. Diastolic readings measure your blood pressure between heartbeats. A healthy measurement is 120 systolic over 80 diastolic or not too far below. Stage 1 hypertension is 130-139 over 80-89, and stage 2 hypertension is 140 over 90 or more.

Measuring your blood pressure is a simple process. Dr. Okafor wraps a cuff around your arm that she inflates, so it squeezes your blood vessels. She takes the two readings, then removes the cuff.

How is hypertension treated?

Dr. Okafor uses several kinds of medication to control your blood pressure. Some medicines prevent your arteries from getting narrower. Others help the muscle in your heart relax or slow your heart rate to reduce arterial wall pressure. You might also benefit from a drug that helps your kidneys function more efficiently.

A vital aspect of hypertension treatment is making changes to your lifestyle that address the causes of your condition. Most people with high blood pressure develop the problem because of their diet and various unhealthy aspects of their lives. To reduce their effect on your blood pressure, Dr. Okafor helps you to:

• Lose weight
• Quit smoking
• Eat a healthier diet
• Exercise more
• Reduce stress
• Cut down on alcohol

These changes are so effective that many people no longer need medication to control their blood pressure after making them.

Why is treating hypertension so important?

Untreated hypertension can have devastating consequences for your health. It significantly increases your risk of problems such as:

• Arterial damage and aneurysms
• Coronary artery disease (CAD)
• Enlarged left heart
• Congestive heart failure
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• Stroke
• Dementia 
• Kidney scarring (glomerulosclerosis)
• Kidney failure
• Retinopathy (sight loss)
• Erectile dysfunction

Dr. Okafor’s expert hypertension treatment and weight management program can help you avoid these severe and, in some cases, life-threatening conditions. She can also screen you for hypertension by measuring your blood pressure at regular intervals.

To book a blood pressure review, call Sugarland Primary Care Physicians today or schedule an appointment online.