Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment Plans

At Bhat Internal Medicine, we strive to provide the very best treatment options for our patients who struggle with hypertension. In addition to treating a wide variety of disorders, Dr. Bhats have vast experience with hypertension and can help you come up with the optimal treatment plan for your particular situation and diagnosis.

In very general terms, a patient often begins to display symptoms when the pressure within blood vessels becomes dangerously high. While early detection is of paramount importance with this dangerous condition, keep in mind that many patients display no symptoms at all. That’s one reason it is important to have regular medical checkups to see if you suffer from high blood pressure.

Because the ailment sometimes takes decades to reach its full manifestation, it pays to keep a close eye on your blood pressure throughout the year, strictly as a preventive measure.

Symptoms and Causes

Hypertension (commonly referred to as high blood pressure), is typically present when the arteries’ blood pressure is higher than normal. It can lead to numerous life-threatening conditions, like kidney damage, cardiac arrest, stroke and aneurysms. About one-third of the 70 million Americans who suffer from high blood pressure are not even aware of the fact. Extremely high blood pressure can cause immediate death.

One common, though not foolproof, way of learning whether you have high blood pressure is to read the results of a cuff test, which will show 120/80 in ideal cases, and 130/90 in cases that are in or approaching hypertension. These numbers are only estimates because some individuals’ readings tend to be a bit higher or lower than the averages. While self-testing in an at-home setting is a good idea, readings taken at a doctor’s office are more reliable.

The exact cause of hypertension is not known. Most research indicates that heredity and lifestyle each play a role, with smokers, people over the age of 75 and overweight persons most at risk.

The most common symptoms of high blood pressure are:

  • Extreme fatigue
  • Vision difficulties including blurred vision
  • Shortness of breath
  • Recurrent headaches

If you have any of these symptoms you should discuss them with your doctor to see whether they are indicative of hypertension or some other malady.

Treatment Plans

Whenever an underlying disease is the root cause of hypertension, Dr. Bhat will hone in on that condition and develop an appropriate treatment plan. If a person’s blood pressure is only slightly elevated, the team will most likely recommend a host of lifestyle changes to address the high blood pressure.

Typical suggestions for those with mildly elevated blood pressure include:

  • Decreasing alcohol intake
  • Incorporating moderate exercise into their daily lives
  • Quitting smoking and use of tobacco products
  • Reducing salt intake
  • Losing weight

In some cases, drug therapy is an effective way to treat hypertension, especially when a patient is unresponsive to other treatments or when the condition has reached a level of immediate danger.

If you think you suffer from hypertension, feel free to contact Dr. Bhat’s office. We accept most major insurance plans.

Our goal is to make certain that every one of our clients gets the best possible care in a relaxed and safe environment. To schedule an appointment or get more information, contact our office at your convenience by calling 520-290-9151.