High Blood Pressure
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High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is often symptomless. You may have heard it called “the silent killer.” The good news is you can enjoy a long, healthy life with high blood pressure. As expert in medicine, our team at Dominion Family HealthCare emphasize preventative care to enhance your health today — and in the future. Call or schedule a consultation online today.
High Blood Pressure Q & A
What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a serious but common condition. It’s caused when your blood flow places an unhealthy level of pressure on the walls of your blood vessels. Over time, this force causes friction that damages fragile blood vessels and vital organs like your heart.
What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
You can have high blood pressure and not have any symptoms at all — even when your blood pressure is dangerously high. That’s why high blood pressure is often known as “the silent killer.”
Still, you may have some signs of the condition, including:
- Headaches
- Shortness of breath
- Nosebleeds
What method diagnosed high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is easily diagnosed. At Dominion Family Health, your doctor measures your blood pressure with an inflatable cuff placed around your arm. It’s called a sphygmomanometer.
The cuff works by compressing your brachial artery, which momentarily stops blood flow. Then, your doctor listens to your blood pressure with a stethoscope or an electronic monitor as the air slowly leaves the cuff.
Your blood pressure is recorded as two numbers:
Top Number
This number represents your systolic blood pressure, which is the pressure of your blood pushing against your artery walls during heartbeats.
Bottom Number
This number is the pressure of your blood when your heart is resting between beats.
Normal blood pressure is under 120/80 mm Hg. Generally, you have high blood pressure if the top number is 130-139 or higher at two or more readings.
How is high blood pressure treated?
Managing high blood pressure begins with making healthy changes to your diet and lifestyle. This doesn’t need to be hard. You can take simple steps, such as:
- Quitting smoking
- Managing stress
- Avoiding too much salt
- Getting regular physical activity
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet
- Cutting back on alcoholic beverages
- Maintaining a healthy weight
At Dominion Family Health, your doctor works with you to explore all avenues of treatment. Along with making lifestyle changes, prescription medications can improve your quality of life and lower your chances of high blood pressure-related conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and more. Your doctor at Dominion Family Healthcare will discuss whether you might benefit from taking a medication.
Isn’t it time to talk with Dr. Agha about preventive steps to keep you in good health now and in the future? Call or schedule an online consultation with today with Dominion Family Healthcare in San Antonio.
Why is managing high blood pressure so important if I don't feel sick?
High blood pressure is often referred to as a “silent condition” because it rarely causes obvious physical symptoms in its early stages. Over time, untreated high blood pressure places constant strain on your heart, blood vessels, and organs—significantly increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, or kidney damage. Regular monitoring ensures you remain protected long-term.
What is involved in a personalized hypertension management plan?
Effective blood pressure care involves a combination of medical guidance and lifestyle adjustments. We work with you to evaluate dietary choices, stress factors, and physical activity levels, supplementing these with evidence-based antihypertensive medications when necessary to keep your readings consistently within a healthy target range.
What causes high blood pressure, and can it be prevented?
Hypertension can stem from genetics, aging, high salt intake, stress, lack of physical activity, or underlying medical conditions. While genetics play a role, adopting a balanced diet, staying active, managing stress, and maintaining a healthy weight can significantly reduce your risk or help manage existing readings.
How frequently should I check my blood pressure at home?
If you are actively working to stabilize high blood pressure, we often recommend logging your readings 1 to 2 times daily (morning and evening) using a reliable cuff. Bringing these logs to your follow-up visits helps us make precise adjustments to your care plan.
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