Hypertension

Hypertension affects nearly half of the population in the United States and puts more than 122 million people aged 20 and up at increased risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular complications. At Pediatric Healthy Hearts, preventive blood pressure screenings are available for adults and children to diagnose hypertension early. Nida Yousef, MD, and the cardiologists provide ongoing support to help you manage your blood pressure levels and preserve your cardiovascular health. Call the Evergreen Park, Illinois, office today to schedule a blood pressure screening or book an appointment online.

What is hypertension?

Your blood pressure is the measurement of the force of your blood against the walls of your arteries, the vessels that carry blood away from your heart.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, describes a condition where the blood force is high enough to damage the arterial walls and the heart muscle. The condition also forces your heart to work harder to pump blood out to the rest of your body.

If left unmanaged, hypertension can lead to kidney damage, heart attack, stroke, heart disease, and other cardiovascular complications.

Pediatric Healthy Hearts offers preventive heart screenings to identify hypertension before heart damage occurs. The cardiologists also offer medical treatments and other resources to keep your blood pressure levels healthy.

What are the symptoms of hypertension?

Unfortunately, hypertension doesn’t cause symptoms until heart damage occurs. For this reason, the condition is known as a silent killer.

The only way to know that you have hypertension is to schedule a blood pressure evaluation at Pediatric Healthy Hearts at least once a year. You might need more frequent screenings if you have risk factors for high blood pressure, such as a poor diet, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, or a family history of hypertension.

The cardiologists also suggest seeking immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms of heart damage that can result from unmanaged blood pressure, such as:

• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Vision changes
• Nose bleeds
• Shortness of breath

These symptoms may be an indication that your blood pressure levels are high enough to be life-threatening.

Pediatric Healthy Hearts offers in-office blood pressure screenings. The providers can also use advanced diagnostic technologies to better understand the root cause of your elevated blood pressure levels.

How is hypertension treated?

In the early stages, hypertension may be manageable with lifestyle and diet changes that help lower your blood pressure levels naturally. These changes may include:

• Incorporating exercise into your daily routine
• Eating low-fat, low-sodium foods
• Managing stress
• Getting 8-9 hours of sleep each night
• Targeting a healthy body weight

Pediatric Healthy Hearts also offers medically supervised weight loss programs to help you lose weight and relieve pressure on your cardiovascular system.

If these changes aren’t enough to keep your blood pressure levels healthy, you might need prescription medications. The drugs work by relaxing your blood vessels to improve circulation or by helping your body eliminate excess fluids and sodium from your bloodstream.

Call Pediatric Healthy Hearts today to schedule a blood pressure screening for yourself or your child, or book an appointment online.