Hypertension

Hypertension affects almost half of all adults in the United States, but many don’t know they have it because there are no symptoms. The team at Primary Care Walk In Clinic in New Port Richey and Spring Hill, Florida, can diagnose hypertension with a blood pressure test before recommending lifestyle management strategies. If you need medications for hypertension, they can prescribe and manage them. Book your next physical exam online or over the phone to find out if you have hypertension or are at risk today.

What is hypertension? 

You might know hypertension by its other name, high blood pressure. Hypertension occurs when your blood vessels stiffen or narrow, increasing the force of blood against their walls as it pumps through them. 

Some hypertension occurs without an obvious cause. In other cases, hypertension stems from another medical condition, a medication, or a behavior pattern. The following are risk factors for high blood pressure: 

• Older age
• Smoking and tobacco use
• A sedentary lifestyle (not enough exercise)
• A high-sodium (salty) diet
• Drinking alcohol
• Family history of hypertension
• Stimulant medication use

Your blood vessels can narrow over time due to atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by plaque buildup along the walls of your veins and arteries. This type of plaque is primarily made up of fat and cholesterol. 

How can I tell if I have hypertension?

Hypertension doesn’t cause symptoms, so you won’t know you have it until you get a blood pressure reading. Yearly physical exams at Primary Care Walk In Clinic allow you to check in on your health and involve a blood pressure reading with every visit. 

The Primary Care Walk In Clinic team can interpret your blood pressure test results for you. If your blood pressure is elevated or high, they might suggest checking it more regularly, changing your lifestyle to help it go down, or taking medications for hypertension. 

How is hypertension treated? 

In many cases, you can safely regulate your blood pressure by adopting healthy lifestyle habits and reducing habits that contribute to hypertension. Lifestyle changes like getting more exercise, eating nutritious foods, and quitting smoking can help prevent complications of hypertension, such as heart attack and stroke. 

The team at Primary Care Walk In Clinic may prescribe medications to help lower your blood pressure if lifestyle changes don’t lower it enough on their own. They may also recommend medication changes if you’re already taking a medication that contributes to high blood pressure. 

If you’re prescribed medications for hypertension, the team tells you when and how to take them. Making healthy lifestyle changes alongside medications improves your chances of successfully managing your hypertension. 

A physical exam can help you detect hypertension and treat it promptly. Call Primary Care Walk In Clinic or request an appointment online today.