High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a common problem that affects almost half of adults in the United States. At LexaMD Urgent and Primary Care in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, the superior urgent care team offers high blood pressure screenings and treatments that reduce your chance of severe heart or blood vessel complications. Call the LexaMD Urgent and Primary Care office to schedule a screening or use the online booking feature today.

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a common disease risk factor that causes the pressure inside blood vessel walls to become too high. It negatively affects blood flow and increases your chance of a heart attack, stroke, aneurysm, heart disease, and heart failure. Routine blood pressure screenings with the LexaMD Urgent and Primary Care team is vital for good health maintenance.

Does high blood pressure cause symptoms?

Much of the time, high blood pressure doesn’t cause any symptoms. But if blood pressure reaches life-threatening stages, you might have headaches, nosebleeds, shortness of breath, or chest pain. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek emergency care.

What are the risk factors for high blood pressure?

High blood pressure often results from unhealthy lifestyle habits, medications, or chronic medical conditions. Common risk factors include:

• Excess body weight
• Aging
• Family history of hypertension
• Smoking
• Lack of exercise
• Low-potassium diet
• Consuming excess sodium
• Extreme or ongoing stress
• Excess alcohol consumption
• Diabetes
• Sleep apnea
• Kidney disease

Pregnancy can also cause high blood pressure. Hypertension may develop in kids, teenagers, and adults. Adopting healthy habits and maintaining an ideal body weight are the best ways to minimize your risk of high blood pressure. 

How is high blood pressure diagnosed?

The LexaMD Urgent and Primary Care team diagnoses high blood pressure using a blood pressure cuff attached and a blood pressure machine or stethoscope. They also review your lifestyle habits, medication regimen, medical history, and any symptoms you may have. 

Your provider then develops an effective blood pressure-lowering treatment tailored to your needs.

How is high blood pressure treated?

The most common treatments for high blood pressure are making changes to your lifestyle habits and taking blood pressure-lowering medications. You may need both of these highly effective treatments.

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, limit dietary sodium, get regular exercise, limit or avoid alcohol, don’t smoke, and minimize stress using stress-reduction strategies. If you’re overweight, aim to move closer to an ideal weight with the help of the LexaMD Urgent and Primary Care team. Take all medicines exactly as directed by your primary care provider.

To get treated or screened for high blood pressure, call the LexaMD Urgent and Primary Care office or use the online booking feature today.