May is High Blood Pressure Education Month in the United States, making this an excellent time to discuss what puts you at risk for hypertension and the health complications it causes, including heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.
Kadie E. Leach, MD, is an experienced internal medicine physician with a busy practice serving the metropolitan area of Washington, DC. She has significant expertise in treating chronic conditions like hypertension, but her passion is preventive health care.
Dr. Leach and our team want you to know how you can lower your risk of developing hypertension.
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. However, certain factors can increase your risk, including:
The risk of hypertension increases with age, especially after age 65. However, even young adults can develop high blood pressure, which can remain asymptomatic for years.
If your parents or other close relatives have hypertension, you’re more likely to develop it too.
Hypertension is more common among people of African descent than among other groups.
Men are more likely to develop hypertension than women until age 64, after which the risk is higher for women.
Being overweight or obese increases the risk of hypertension.
Physical inactivity can increase the risk of developing hypertension.
Eating a diet high in sodium (salt) and low in potassium can increase the risk of hypertension.
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of hypertension.
Smoking or chewing tobacco can damage the walls of blood vessels and increase the risk of hypertension.
If you have any of these risk factors, Dr. Leach recommends taking steps to lower your odds of developing hypertension.
While there is no known cure for hypertension, it is manageable with lifestyle changes and medications. Dr. Leach develops a treatment plan based on your needs and medical history.
Some lifestyle changes that can help manage hypertension include:
In addition to lifestyle changes, several medications, including diuretics, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and beta-blockers, can effectively lower your blood pressure.
Schedule an evaluation with Dr. Leach today for more help with your blood pressure or a customized preventive care strategy to improve your overall health. Call our office in Lanham, MD, or request an appointment online.
