Almost half of all people in the United States have blood pressure that’s above the normal, healthy range. Hypertension may not come with symptoms, but Chidi Anukwuem, MD, and Miriam Joseph, NP, at LCT Medical can take a quick reading to find out if you have hypertension. After exploring the causes and contributing factors, they help you make lifestyle changes and prescribe medications to manage your hypertension. Schedule your appointment over the phone or online at the office in Irvington or Old Bridge, New Jersey, today.

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What is hypertension?

Hypertension, which you might know as high blood pressure, is a chronic condition that’s often directly related to long-term lifestyle choices. Your genetics can also play a part in raising your blood pressure.

If you have high blood pressure, your blood places too much force against the walls of your blood vessels as it flows through them. This is usually because your blood vessels have narrowed over time due to plaque buildup, increasing their resistance against the blood flowing through them.

Over time, high blood pressure damages your blood vessels and puts you at risk for even more serious health complications. It’s especially sinister because hypertension doesn’t cause any symptoms, but your providers at LCT Medical read and interpret your blood pressure each time you come in for an annual physical.

What causes hypertension?

Some cases of hypertension are stand-alone illnesses, called primary hypertension. If you have primary hypertension, it could be due to a combination of lifestyle factors, your genes, and physical changes in your body related to aging.

For example, dysfunctional kidneys might not filter your blood as well as they once did, so salt and fluid build up to give you a higher volume of blood. Primary hypertension can also be linked to a lack of physical activity or a diet that isn’t well balanced.

Secondary hypertension comes as a consequence of another disease and is usually more severe than primary hypertension. You can get secondary hypertension from:

  • Sleep apnea
  • Congenital heart abnormalities
  • Thyroid problems
  • Adrenal gland problems
  • Illicit drug abuse
  • Alcoholism
  • Kidney disease

LCT Medical considers all possibilities for the underlying cause if you have a high blood pressure reading.

Is hypertension treatable?

Fortunately, there are ways that you can manage your hypertension whether you have the primary or secondary type. With secondary hypertension, treating the underlying cause may be enough to lower or maintain your blood pressure.

With either type, making healthy lifestyle changes can make a big difference and lower your risk for hypertension-related complications. LCT Medical works with you to make easy changes to your diet and adopt consistent exercise habits.

In some cases, lifestyle changes aren’t enough to make a difference in your blood pressure. Your physician can prescribe blood pressure-lowering medications like beta-blockers or diuretics if lifestyle changes don’t make enough of a difference.

You might not know if you have hypertension, but a quick reading at LCT Medical can lead to a diagnosis. Schedule your appointment over the phone or online today.