Central Arkansas Cardiology

Hypertension

High blood pressure (Hypertension) is often called the silent killer. For the most part, it exists without symptoms. However, when blood pressure is elevated for long periods of time there is a higher incidence of heart attacks, congestive heart failure, strokes, kidney disease and eye disease. It is important to have a relationship with a physician in which blood pressure can be measured on a regular basis and, if blood pressure starts to rise, interventions can be undertaken to prevent complications of high blood pressure. There are many ways to treat hypertension including diet and exercise. However, once medical therapy is elected, there are numerous groups of medications which can be used to lower blood pressure. A good relationship with your physician who understands your medical problem in the context of other conditions will help when a choice of medication has to be made. In people whose blood pressure is somewhat higher, it is often necessary to use groups of medications to control blood pressure and prevent complications of the disease. Again, it is important to have a relationship with the physician who can understand drug interactions and how they will affect you as a person.

Since high blood pressure is so intimately involved with heart disease, Central Arkansas Cardiology is uniquely able to handle problematic cases of hypertension. This is done in conjunction and in communication with the care delivered by your primary doctor.

For more information on high blood pressure, please visit the National Institutes of Health or American Heart Association web sites.