Hypertension Q & A

What is hypertension?

Your blood pressure is a measurement of the force of blood against the walls of your arteries. When you have hypertension (high blood pressure), it means the force of your blood is high enough to cause damage to your arteries, which can affect blood flow to your heart.

There are two types of hypertension:

Primary hypertension

Primary hypertension develops gradually over time for no identifiable reason. Factors that can contribute to primary hypertension include your age, stress, diet, and lifestyle.

Secondary hypertension

Secondary hypertension describes high blood pressure that results from an underlying medical condition, such as kidney disease, thyroid dysfunction, or sleep apnea.

You can also develop secondary hypertension if you use birth control pills, over-the-counter cold medications, or illegal drugs.

What are the symptoms of hypertension?

Hypertension is often a silent condition because you can have the condition for years without noticing any symptoms.

Symptoms tend to develop only when the condition worsens and causes damage to your arteries or heart. These symptoms can include:

• Dizziness

• Headaches

• Nosebleeds

• Shortness of breath

To lower your risk for complications, you should have routine blood pressure screenings at least once a year, or more often if you have risk factors for hypertension.

Dr. Rezvani offers in-office blood pressure screenings during your physical exam. Based on the severity of your condition, he customizes a treatment plan to lower your blood pressure levels and prevent complications.

How is hypertension treated?

Treatment for hypertension focuses on lifestyle changes you can make to keep your blood pressure levels in a healthy range. Dr. Rezvani may recommend exercises that you can do to lower your blood pressure and help you design a healthy diet plan.

If these strategies aren’t enough to control hypertension, you may need medications to eliminate excess fluids from your body or relax your blood vessels to improve circulation.

Dr. Rezvani also has extensive experience managing even the most challenging cases of hypertension, including treatment-resistant hypertension. He works closely with you to identify which medications work best for your condition and can meet with you through telehealth to monitor your treatment progress.

To schedule an appointment for hypertension care with Mohammad Rezvani, M.D. in Culver City, California, call or book online today.