High Blood Pressure services Rockwall, TX

Nearly half of Americans have high blood pressure — but just 25% of affected people are taking the right steps to manage their blood pressure. At Merak Health in Rockwall, Texas, Dr. Akhil Vats and the compassionate team provide high blood pressure management both in the office and through house calls. To learn more about high blood pressure care, call the office nearest you or book an appointment online today.

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What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure means your blood pressure reading is greater than 130/80 mmHg. The first number, the systolic blood pressure, tells you how strongly your blood pulses against artery walls when your heart beats. The second number, the diastolic blood pressure, tells you how much pressure your blood exerts against artery walls between heartbeats.

Healthy blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg, and you have elevated (but not officially high) blood pressure with a reading of 120-129 systolic and less than 80 mmHg diastolic.

What causes high blood pressure?

High blood pressure often develops over a period of time. The cause isn’t clear, but there are many known risk factors for high blood pressure, including:

  • Age (more common in older people)
  • Extra weight
  • Lack of physical activity
  • Smoking
  • Stress
  • Eating too much salt or too little potassium

If you have a chronic disease like diabetes or sleep apnea, you’re more likely to develop high blood pressure.

What kinds of health problems does high blood pressure cause?

High blood pressure can lead to many medical complications, including:

  • Heart disease
  • Heart failure
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Kidney disease
  • Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
  • Vascular dementia

However, you can control your blood pressure and prevent these complications (even if you already have high blood pressure).

How is high blood pressure treated?

Merak Health takes a preventive and holistic approach to blood pressure management. In most cases, changing your diet, exercising more often, and managing specific risk factors like stress, can improve your blood pressure — often decreasing it to a healthy range without the use of medication.

Lifestyle changes are the first and most important approach for blood pressure management.  However, some patients may also need blood pressure medications. If you need blood pressure medication, it’s vital to take the pills every day and never deviate from your prescription unless the Merak Health team instructs you to do so.

The Merak Health team can help you get back to normal blood pressure while improving your overall health and wellness. Call the office or use the online booking feature today for help with high blood pressure.