High Blood Pressure

Nearly half of the adults in the United States have high blood pressure. At Desert Lotus Clinic, preventive high blood pressure screenings are available to lower your risk for heart disease, stroke, and other complications of unmanaged blood pressure. Nadia Poon-Woo, FNP-BC, uses advanced screening technologies to identify warning signs of elevated blood pressure so you can start treatment without delay. In-office and online telehealth visits are available to monitor your blood pressure in the long term. Call the Oro Valley, Arizona, office to schedule a high blood pressure screening or book a consultation online today.

What is high blood pressure?

Your blood pressure is a measurement of the force of your blood against the walls of your arteries. When you have high blood pressure (hypertension), your blood force is higher than it should be, which can damage the walls of your arteries.

There are two types of high blood pressure:

Primary hypertension

Primary hypertension describes high blood pressure that develops over many years because of atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque (hardened cholesterol) in the arteries.

Your lifestyle, diet, and overall health play a role in primary hypertension.

Secondary hypertension

Secondary hypertension describes high blood pressure that results from underlying medical conditions like kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and thyroid disorders. The use of certain over-the-counter and prescription medications can also lead to this type of hypertension.

Desert Lotus Clinic offers high blood pressure screening in the office to identify blood pressure issues before complications arise. Nadia also specializes in managing high blood pressure to protect your cardiovascular health.

When should I schedule a high blood pressure screening?

High blood pressure is known as a silent killer because you can have the condition for years without experiencing any symptoms.

You should schedule wellness visits at Desert Lotus Clinic once yearly so Nadia can screen for high blood pressure and check your heart rate and other vital signs.

If you have risk factors for high blood pressure, you may need more frequent blood pressure screenings. High blood pressure risk factors can include:

• Obesity
• Smoking 
• Excessive stress
• Family history of hypertension

Nadia may also recommend investing in a blood pressure monitoring system you can use at home to measure your blood pressure on a regular basis. 

How is high blood pressure treated?

Your initial treatment plan for high blood pressure may include lifestyle and diet strategies you can use to lower your levels naturally.

Nadia may recommend strategies like:

• Daily physical activity
• Low-salt, low-fat diet
• Limiting alcohol
• Reducing stress with mindful techniques

You may also benefit from supplements like potassium that help regulate your heart rate and lower blood pressure levels.

If these changes aren’t enough, Nadia can prescribe medications to relax your vessels so that blood can flow more efficiently. You can also expect to schedule routine blood pressure checks in the office to ensure the medications are working properly.

Call Desert Lotus Clinic to schedule a high blood pressure screening or book an appointment online.