Hypertension

As many as one out of every three American adults have high blood pressure (hypertension). If your blood pressure is high, Shawn Hamilton, MD, and the team of top-rated internists at Spruce Medical Group in Irvine, California, can design a personalized treatment package to lower your numbers. Find out more by booking a hypertension evaluation online or calling the clinic directly to schedule an appointment.

What causes hypertension?

In short, hypertension means that there’s too much force on vessels, arteries, and veins as blood circulates through the body. This excessive pressure can damage arterial walls and increase your risk of heart disease, kidney disease, and even stroke. If your blood pressure is high, it could be caused by or related to:

• Stress
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Alcohol and tobacco usage 
• Obesity or being overweight
• Poor dietary choices, like consuming lots of salty foods

You can even develop hypertension because of an existing health condition. For instance, if you have diabetes, your risk of abnormally high blood pressure numbers is greater. 

Are there symptoms of hypertension?

No! That’s what makes hypertension such a dangerous condition (it’s even nicknamed the “silent killer”). You probably won’t know your blood pressure is high until you have it checked. To keep your heart healthy, your blood pressure needs to be at or below 120/80 mm Hg.

Your physician at Spruce Medical Group may diagnose you with prehypertension if your reading is greater than this. Full-blown hypertension is often diagnosed when your reading is above 140/90 mm Hg.

If your blood pressure ever goes above 180/120 mm Hg — an emergency hypertensive situation — you may experience a sudden throbbing headache, as well as a nosebleed. This requires immediate emergency intervention. 

How is hypertension treated?

Treating hypertension, as with many chronic conditions, involves pairing lifestyle changes with medications. Depending on the severity of your high blood pressure, as well as your overall health, your dedicated practitioner at Spruce Medical Group may recommend:

• Exercise planning
• Weight loss management
• Diuretic medications to flush out excess fluids
• Hypertension medications to relax blood vessels
• Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH diet)

Treating hypertension takes time and dedication. Your physician at Spruce Medical Group has you check in regularly and may even provide telemedicine visits online or through an app, so you can receive the care you need from the comfort of your own home.

If you have hypertension, the dedicated physicians at Spruce Medical Group can help you get your numbers down. Find out more by booking an exam online or over the phone today.