Hypertension Specialist
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Marina Village Medicine
Medical Clinics located in Alameda, CA
About one in three adults in the United States has high blood pressure, which significantly increases your risk of heart disease if left untreated. If you’re at risk of or have high blood pressure, Jagmohan Khaira, MD and the experienced medical team at Marina Village Medicine in Alameda, California, help you manage high blood pressure to prevent serious health complications. If you live in Alameda, Oakland, Emeryville, Berkeley, San Leandro, Castro Valley, or Hayward, call to book an appointment or schedule one online today.
Hypertension Q & A
What is hypertension?
Hypertension is high blood pressure, a chronic health condition that occurs when the force of blood pumping against artery walls is consistently too high. When this happens, your heart works harder than it should, which increases your risk of a stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney failure.
What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
Most of the time you won’t notice any symptoms if you have high blood pressure. If you do experience symptoms, which can include shortness of breath, nosebleeds, and headaches, it might be a sign that your blood pressure has reached a severe, life-threatening stage.
What are the risk factors for hypertension?
Numerous factors can increase your risk of developing high blood pressure, such as:
- Older age
- Having a family history of hypertension
- Being overweight or obese
- Having African heritage
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Tobacco use or drinking too much alcohol
- Eating too much sodium
- Consuming too little potassium
- Stress
- Pregnancy
Having certain health conditions, such as diabetes, sleep apnea, or kidney disease, also increases your risk of developing high blood pressure.
How is high blood pressure treated?
A provider at Marina Village Medicine checks your blood pressure using a cuff attached to a blood pressure machine. If your levels are high, treatment options include:
Lifestyle changes
Making lifestyle changes may help lower blood pressure without the need for medication. Examples include:
- Losing weight if you’re overweight
- Increasing physical activity
- Reducing dietary sodium to 1,500 milligrams per day
- Increasing fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish, and omega-3s in your diet
- Managing stress
- Limiting or avoiding alcohol
- Avoiding tobacco products
Even if you take blood pressure medications, living a healthy lifestyle means you might reduce or eliminate the need for medications in the future.
Blood pressure medications
If lifestyle changes haven’t worked for you or your blood pressure is very high, your Marina Village Medicine provider may prescribe high blood pressure medications for you. They review all options with you to find a medicine that best matches your individual needs.
To schedule a blood pressure screening or wellness exam, call Marina Village Medicine today or book an appointment online.
