Hypertension is a long-term medical condition characterized by elevated blood pressure. While high BP doesn’t cause symptoms, it is considered a major risk factor for developing certain illnesses, especially heart disease. Often called the “the silent killer,” this illness can lead to heart failure, vision loss, and chronic kidney disease. Unless you have your vitals checked, you probably won’t know you have it, but it is still affecting you. At Compassion Medical Wellness Centre, we offer both annual and periodic medical exams and comprehensive care services to help you detect and address high blood pressure.
What Is Hypertension?
Hypertension is another word for high blood pressure, and what it means is that your body is working harder than it should pump blood due to a constriction of the arteries. Primary hypertension, also known as essential hypertension, builds up over time. It is largely due to poor lifestyle choices, such as overeating, drinking, and smoking. You may have a particular genetic predisposition to high BP. Some people can have a very healthy diet and exercise regimen and still have this problem, while others may eat fatty foods and exercise only casually and not have high blood pressure. Secondary hypertension is a sudden onset disease that may result from a kidney problem, sleep apnea, alcoholism, drug abuse, or thyroid issues, among other causes.
What Are the Symptoms?
Unfortunately, the first symptom one experiences from hypertension is often a heart attack. That said, severe hypertension may present some signs including dizziness, headaches, chest tightness, chest pain, or nose bleeds. If you are having these symptoms, you should contact a doctor immediately. While genetics can play a role, a poor diet, lack of exercise, drinking, and smoking are all major risk factors that can contribute to this illness.
How Do We Treat High Blood Pressure?
In order to help you manage the illness, we must first detect and determine its severity. When you arrive for a medical exam, we will run a series of tests to get an understanding of your health. We will also discuss your lifestyle habits and health history to determine how these contribute to your condition. After reviewing these factors, we can provide you with recommendations on how to manage your illness.
Addressing Hypertension in Edmonton, Alberta
At Compassion Medical Wellness Centre, we care for the health and wellness of our patients. If you have hypertension or any other health issues, we can help you develop a plan to address them. To get started, schedule your appointment by calling our office at (780) 760-8309.