Hypertension, or high blood pressure, puts you at risk of health problems including heart attack, stroke, and heart disease. At North View Medical Clinic in Mead, Washington, board-certified family practice physician John Torquato, MD, can diagnose and treat hypertension before it causes serious medical problems. Call the office to learn more or book an appointment online today.

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What is hypertension?

Hypertension is a condition in which pressure inside blood vessel walls is higher than it’s supposed to be. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a risk factor for heart disease. It’s caused by genetic factors and lifestyle habits. Treatment can reduce your risk of complications.

What are the symptoms of hypertension?

Most of the time you don’t experience any symptoms with hypertension, which is why routine high blood pressure screening is crucial. If symptoms do appear, they likely only occur when blood pressure reaches dangerously high levels. Such symptoms can include shortness of breath, headaches, and nosebleeds.

What are the risk factors for hypertension?

Risk factors associated with high blood pressure include genetic factors and lifestyle habits. Examples include:

  • Older age
  • Family history of hypertension
  • Being overweight or obese
  • African heritage
  • Too much sodium
  • Too little dietary potassium
  • Physical inactivity
  • Using tobacco
  • Excessive alcohol
  • Having a chronic disease
  • Stress

If you’re at risk of developing high blood pressure, see North View Medical Clinic for periodic hypertension screening. Dr. Torquato can see you for in-person appointments or visit with you virtually via telemedicine.

How does my provider diagnose hypertension?

To determine how high your blood pressure is, Dr. Torquato uses a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope or blood pressure machine. The procedure is fast and painless. You can also check your blood pressure at home using a cuff and blood pressure-monitoring device.

What are my hypertension treatment options?

Treating high blood pressure is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and other serious medical problems. High blood pressure treatments include:

Lifestyle changes

Making lifestyle changes can reduce high blood pressure naturally. Such changes include medical weight loss, more exercise, plant-based nutrition, stress-relieving strategies, better sleep, limited (or no) alcohol, and not using tobacco products.

Supplements

Taking dietary supplements can reduce your risk of nutritional deficiencies, and it may help lower high cholesterol or other chronic disease risk factors.

Medications

The goal at North View Medical Clinic is to reduce high blood pressure naturally, so you can take fewer blood pressure medications, lower dosages, or no blood pressure-lowering medicines at all over time.

Take charge of your health by scheduling routine hypertension screenings with Dr. Torquato. Call the North View Medical Clinic office or book an appointment online today.