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Hypertension

Board Certified Family Medicine Physician serving Grapevine, Southlake, Fort Worth, Dallas, TX, and the surrounding areas

Hypertension services offered in Grapevine, TX

Since it doesn’t cause symptoms, hypertension (high blood pressure) can do major damage to your organs without your knowledge. With a blood pressure reading at the office of Saba Shabnam, MD, FAAFP, in Grapevine, Texas, Dr. Shabnam can find out if you have hypertension and help you manage your blood pressure. Schedule your next appointment over the phone or online today.

Hypertension Q & A

What is hypertension?

Hypertension is high blood pressure, which is a common long-term condition that often comes as a result of your blood vessels getting narrower over time. A blood pressure reading includes two numbers. One indicates the force of blood against your blood vessel walls during your heartbeat, and the other measures the force of blood between heartbeats. 

You can go for a long time without knowing you have high blood pressure because it causes no symptoms. During your appointment at the practice of Saba Shabnam, MD, FAAFP, your provider takes a blood pressure reading and can tell you what the numbers mean. 

If your blood pressure is high, your provider recommends a suitable hypertension treatment plan. 

If you don’t treat high blood pressure, the consequences can be dire. Major health events like heart attack and stroke can happen after years of unchecked high blood pressure, making it important to get a blood pressure reading at your doctor’s office or local pharmacy every so often. 

 

Which type of hypertension do I have?

Dr. Shabnam evaluates your overall health in search of the cause of your high blood pressure. They can treat the two major types of hypertension:

 

Primary hypertension

Primary hypertension is high blood pressure without an underlying condition causing it. It accounts for 90-95% of adult hypertension cases and is often linked to your behaviors, genetics, or environment. 

 

Secondary hypertension

Secondary hypertension is high blood pressure with a distinct underlying medical cause. There are many conditions that can result in secondary hypertension, including kidney disease, thyroid problems, obstructive sleep apnea, and an array of medications. 

 

How is hypertension treated?

Treating secondary hypertension typically involves addressing the underlying condition elevating your blood pressure. If you have hypertension as a side effect of a specific medication, your provider may take you off that medication or lower the dose. 

Anyone with primary hypertension and many people with secondary hypertension benefit from treatments that specifically work to lower your blood pressure. Your provider might also encourage you to adjust your lifestyle in a way that helps keep your blood pressure in check. 

Hypertension treatment often involves:

  • Weight management
  • Less sodium in your diet
  • Smoking cessation
  • Minimizing your alcohol intake
  • Regular exercise
  • Calcium channel blockers (CCBs)
  • Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
  • Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)
  • Diuretics

A combination of strategies may be necessary to regulate your blood pressure and avoid the complications of hypertension. 

To find out if you have hypertension and explore your options for treatment, call the office of Saba Shabnam, MD, FAAFP, or book an appointment online today.