High Blood Pressure Management in Philadelphia, PA

The highly-trained primary care physicians in Philadelphia at 9th Street Internal Medicine have extensive experience diagnosing and treating patients for high blood pressure. Our primary care physicians will take the time to fully evaluate your symptoms and discuss your treatment options. Call (215) 440-8681 to schedule an appointment at our primary care clinic in Philadelphia, PA today!

What is Hypertension?

A very common condition, hypertension, or high blood pressure, is when the force of blood against your artery walls is too high. Because blood pressure is a measure of how much blood your heart pumps and how resistant your arteries are to blood flow, narrow arteries generally means high blood pressure. Over time, high blood pressure can cause a great deal of health problems including heart disease.

Types of Hypertension

While high blood pressure is often grouped into one general category, there are actually two categories:

Primary Hypertension

Primary hypertension is when there is no direct cause. This type most commonly occurs in adults, and develops over the course of a number of years.

Secondary Hypertension

Secondary hypertension occurs when there is an existing condition or direct cause. This type will appear suddenly and will cause a much higher blood pressure than primary hypertension. Conditions such as sleep apnea, thyroid problems, and kidney issues as well as alcohol or drug abuse can lead to secondary hypertension.

Causes of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a condition in which the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries is too high. Over time, this can damage the blood vessels and lead to serious health problems like heart disease and stroke. There are many factors that can contribute to high blood pressure, including:

  • Obesity
  • A high sodium diet.
  • Alcohol or tobacco abuse.
  • Old age.
  • High stress.
  • Chronic conditions or a family history of high blood pressure.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Lack of physical activity.

Diagnosis

In order to properly diagnose high blood pressure, a healthcare professional will measure your blood pressure using a gauge that goes around your arm. This gauge will measure both systolic pressure, the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats, and diastolic pressure, or the pressure between beats.

The following gives an idea of what your blood pressure levels indicate:

  • Normal Blood Pressure
    Systolic: 120 / Diastolic: 80
  • Elevated Blood Pressure
    Systolic: 120-129 / Diastolic: Below 80
  • Stage 1 Hypertension
    Systolic: 130-199 / Diastolic: 80-89
  • Stage 2 Hypertension
    Systolic: 140 / Diastolic: 90

In addition to a blood pressure test, our primary care physician in Philadelphia may suggest further monitoring, such as ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, or tests such as a urinalysis, blood test, or cholesterol test.

Treatment

If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe you a number of various medications. Some of the most common types may include:

  • Diuretics
  • Beta Blockers
  • Renin Inhibitors
  • Angiotensin-converting and receptor blockers
  • Alpha and alpha-beta blockers

In addition, there are a number of lifestyle changes that you will be asked to make to treat your hypertension. These may include:

  • Decreasing sodium in your diet
  • Ceasing smoking and limiting alcohol consumption
  • Losing weight
  • Creating consistent exercise plans
  • Practicing relaxation and breathing
  • Eating healthy foods

Schedule an Appointment For High Blood Pressure Management

If you are experiencing symptoms of high blood pressure, or would like to discuss options to prevent them, contact 9th Street Internal Medicine today at (215) 440-8681.

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