High Blood Pressure

Carroll Family Medicine LLC

Family Medicine & Aesthetics located in Hampstead, MD

You know that excess pressure causes wear and tear. You’ve probably even seen an old garden hose split from the pressure of the water inside. Clearly, pressure matters. And that’s why it’s so important to treat high blood pressure as quickly and effectively as possible. At Carroll Family Medicine LLC in Hampstead, Maryland, you’ll find health care providers dedicated to getting you the right high blood pressure treatment to protect your long-term health. Call them or book your appointment online today.

High Blood Pressure Q & A

What is high blood pressure?

You’re diagnosed with high blood pressure, also called hypertension, when the pressure of the blood moving through your arteries is higher than it should be. The excess force high blood pressure puts on your artery walls can lead to serious health complications, including:

  • Heart failure
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Aneurysms
  • Dementia

With so many health risks linked to high blood pressure, it’s important to diagnose and start treatment for this condition as quickly as possible.

How is high blood pressure diagnosed?

Part of the danger of high blood pressure is that it has very few symptoms. Most people living with high blood pressure don’t know they have it until their doctor takes a blood pressure reading. 

Each time you have an appointment at Carroll Family Medicine, their dedicated team takes your vitals — including your blood pressure. If it’s been more than a year since you’ve visited the doctor and had your blood pressure taken, make an appointment as soon as possible. 

During your appointment, getting your blood pressure reading takes just minutes. Your Carroll Family Medicine health care provider places a cuff around your arm that gradually tightens as it inflates. As it does, it takes two readings: your systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. The former is the pressure in your arteries as your heart beats, and the latter is the pressure when your heart is at rest. 

Healthy blood pressure is anything that’s below 120/80 mm Hg. 

Can high blood pressure be treated?

Yes, and Carroll Family Medicine is experienced in helping people lead long, healthy lives even after a high blood pressure diagnosis. They offer medication and help patients make the lifestyle changes that often make the biggest difference for their blood pressure. With these treatments, many people are able to restore their blood pressure to healthy levels. 

Some of those lifestyle changes include:

  • Exercising on a regular basis
  • Eating healthily
  • Limiting alcohol consumption
  • Consuming less salt

Making major changes to the way you eat and generally live your life doesn’t have to be daunting, either. Carroll Family Medicine offers individualized wellness programs, including obesity counseling, to help you get your blood pressure back to a healthy level. 

To learn more, call them or book your appointment online.