Hypertension

Over a billion adults suffer from hypertension, and it’s a leading cause of early deaths around the world. If you have hypertension, you don’t have to resign yourself to a short life, though. At Behnaz Behmanesh, DO, in Burbank, California, Dr. Behmanesh offers customized primary care services, including hypertension management and control, to help you live longer and better. Call the office or book an appointment online today.

What is hypertension?

Hypertension means that your blood pressure is too high. Your systolic blood pressure, the first part of a blood pressure reading, reflects the pressure level in your arteries as your heart muscle contracts. The other number, your diastolic blood pressure, is the pressure level when your heart is resting. 

There's a range of hypertension categories, including:

• Normal - systolic less than 120 and diastolic less than 80
• Elevated - systolic 120-129 and diastolic less than 80
• Stage one hypertension - systolic 130-139, or diastolic 80-89
• Stage two hypertension - systolic 140 or higher, or diastolic 90 or higher
• Hypertensive crisis - systolic 180 or higher and/or diastolic 120 or higher

Having high blood pressure once in a while doesn't mean you automatically have hypertension. For example, a blood pressure spike during a stressful time can simply be a brief anomaly. But if you have high blood pressure for a prolonged period, it's hypertension. 

Untreated hypertension can lead to a heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, and other life-threatening damage.

What leads to hypertension? 

For most cases of hypertension, there's no certain cause. Research clearly identifies a number of risk factors, however. Some of the many risk factors include:

• Advancing age
• African heritage
• Family history of hypertension
• Chronic conditions such as diabetes
• Obesity
• High levels of stress
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• High sodium intake
• Inadequate dietary potassium
• Excessive alcohol consumption (more than one drink daily for women, two for men)

In some situations, hypertension has a direct connection to another condition. This is known as secondary hypertension. Some of the possible causes of secondary hypertension include:

• Adrenal gland tumors
• Thyroid dysfunction
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Kidney disease or damage
• Medications, such as oral contraceptives and cold remedies
• Illicit drug use, such as cocaine and methamphetamine

If Dr. Behmanesh diagnoses you with hypertension, or if she identifies risk factors that mean you're vulnerable, she can help you implement lifestyle changes and/or begin medical treatment to get healthy again. 

How is hypertension treated?

Treatment at the office of Behnaz Behmanesh, DO, typically starts with changes such as reducing your sodium intake, exercising regularly, losing weight, and reducing alcohol intake.

If lifestyle changes don't lower your blood pressure enough, Dr. Behmanesh may prescribe medications like diuretics, angiotensin II receptor blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, or others.

With help from Behnaz Behmanesh, DO, you can beat hypertension and be healthy. Call the office or book with online scheduling today.