High blood pressure is a common condition that, if left untreated, can increase your risk of life-threatening health complications such as heart attack and stroke. Although it is not always clear what causes the condition, certain sleep disorders have been linked to increased blood pressure. A sleep study can help to evaluate and treat a variety of sleep disorders and sleep-related problems, which can not only help to improve your sleep but also your overall health. Sleep plays an important ... [Read More]
hypertension
Controlling Your Blood Pressure: How Your Primary Care Physician Can Help
Hypertension, which is also called high blood pressure, is a common but potentially dangerous circulatory condition that develops gradually. It can have no symptoms while it causes a negative impact on your heart and blood vessels over time. Fortunately, many interventions can help you effectively control this condition, including medication and lifestyle changes. Let’s talk about how a primary care physician can guide you toward the right blood pressure treatments for you. Strategies to ... [Read More]
Causes of High Blood Pressure
Nearly half of all Americans have high blood pressure or hypertension. Blood pressure measures the amount of force put on blood vessels as blood flows through the body. High blood pressure means that the body is working too hard to pump blood. This is dangerous because it can lead to elastic arteries, muscular arteries, heart attack or heart failure. High blood pressure can also lead to other health conditions such as stroke, vision loss, and kidney disease. There are many causes of high ... [Read More]
Diagnosing Structural Problems in The Heart: Echocardiograms and Your Heart Valves
Could You Have Heart Disease, and Not Know About It? If you have been experiencing fatigue, high blood pressure, shortness of breath, leg cramping, or chest pain/tightness, you could have a heart condition and should see your doctor for evaluation. About 60 million people, or 20 to 25 percent of adults in the United States, suffer from structural heart defects. These heart defects include diseases of the heart valves (valvular). What Is Structural Heart Valve Disease (SHD)? Heart valves ... [Read More]
Stress and Hypertension: Is there a connection?
How often have you heard someone complain that they were so mad that their blood pressure was going up? While there is still not much direct evidence that proves stress causes high blood pressure (HBP), or hypertension, it can have a profound effect on its development. How Stress Effects Blood Pressure Studies show that stress can raise blood pressure, and that repeated blood pressure elevation can lead to a condition known as hypertension. Also, chronic stress stimulates the nervous system to ... [Read More]