Hypertension Specialist
Love Family Healthcare, PLLC
Family Medicine Practice located in Arlington, TX
Hypertension is probably more familiar to you as high blood pressure, a condition that affects around 75 million Americans, or one in three adults. Having your blood pressure measured regularly is essential to ensure it’s within a normal range. Shira Love, MSN, FNP-C, and the team at Love Family Healthcare, PLLC, a black-owned health care practice in Arlington, Texas, can check your blood pressure and help you manage it, when needed. Book your routine blood pressure checkup by calling the practice today or schedule an appointment using the online tool.
Hypertension Q&A
What is hypertension?
High blood pressure, or hypertension, means that your blood is creating more pressure on your blood vessels than it should, with every beat of your heart. Over time, this continual pounding takes its toll, weakening your blood vessels, as well as your heart.
The condition is tricky because there are no outward signs of high blood pressure. That said, a simple, noninvasive blood pressure test at Love Family Healthcare, PLLC, lets you know where you fall in terms of blood pressure.
What constitutes hypertension?
When a provider measures your blood pressure, they come up with two numbers:
- Systolic (the first number): the pressure in your blood when your heart beats
- Diastolic (the second number): the pressure in your blood in between heartbeats
Taken together, these numbers paint a clear picture of how hard your heart is working to deliver blood and what kind of pressure your blood vessels are under in this process. And here’s how the numbers break out:
- 120/80 or lower: normal blood pressure
- 120-129 over 80 or lower: elevated
- 130-139 over 80-89: stage 1 hypertension
- 140/90 or higher: stage 2 hypertension
Not too long ago, high blood pressure was classified as 140/90 or higher. The American Heart Association now considers 130/80 or higher as hypertension in order to get people to take preventive action. High blood pressure is reversible, so heeding the early warning signs is key.
What complications are associated with hypertension?
The complications associated with hypertension include:
- Heart failure
- Heart attack or stroke
- Peripheral artery disease
- An aneurysm
- Vision loss
- Kidney problems
- Metabolic syndrome
The effect that high blood pressure can have on your health cannot be overstated since your very life depends on good cardiovascular health. It’s for this reason that Shira and the team at Love Family Healthcare, PLLC offer comprehensive primary care for high blood pressure.
How is high blood pressure treated?
Shira takes a holistic and preventive approach to high blood pressure in the hopes that she can stave off the many serious complications by getting your blood pressure numbers down. To do this, she turns to:
- Prescription medication
- Lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking
- Weight loss
- Exercise recommendations
- Nutrition counseling
- Stress management
- Supplements
By addressing your high blood pressure numbers from several angles, Shira helps you gain control of your cardiovascular health for long-term success.
To get to work on your high blood pressure, call Love Family Healthcare, PLLC, or use the online scheduler to book a visit.