High Blood Pressure Specialist

High Blood Pressure services offered in Texas, Houston, TX

Even if you feel energized and healthy, you’re at risk of developing high blood pressure because it affects nearly half of all adults. Anand Balasubramanian, MD, PA, has extensive experience providing adult care that helps prevent the disease or keep it well controlled after it develops. Routine screenings and risk assessments are the only way to catch and treat high blood pressure while you still have time to prevent serious problems. To schedule an appointment, call one of the two offices in Houston, Texas, or use the online request feature today.

What causes high blood pressure?

High blood pressure (hypertension) most often develops due to years of unhealthy habits. The top causes include:

Being overweight or obese
Not getting enough exercise
Consuming too much salt
Living with frequent stress
Smoking cigarettes
Drinking too much alcohol

You can also develop high blood pressure as the result of an underlying health condition. Secondary hypertension often occurs in people who have kidney disease, thyroid disease, and obstructive sleep apnea.

What health complications occur due to high blood pressure?

Without treatment, high blood pressure damages the blood vessel walls, creating an area that makes it easy for cholesterol to stick to the artery. Then fats keep accumulating in the same spot, creating plaque that enlarges, hardens, and narrows the artery.

This condition, called atherosclerosis, leads to problems such as:

Coronary artery disease
Peripheral artery disease
Carotid artery disease
Abdominal aortic aneurysms
Renal artery stenosis

Eventually, the plaque blocks enough blood to cause a heart attack, stroke, aortic rupture, or kidney failure.

What symptoms occur if I have high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is especially dangerous because it doesn't cause symptoms until the fatty plaque significantly interferes with circulation.

At an advanced stage, high blood pressure causes different symptoms, depending on the affected artery. For example, coronary artery disease causes chest pain and shortness of breath, while peripheral artery disease leads to leg pain when walking.

How is high blood pressure treated?

Dr. Balasubramanian treats high blood pressure with a personalized approach that includes:

Lifestyle changes

If you catch high blood pressure at a prehypertension stage, you can prevent full-blown disease by changing your diet, getting more exercise, and losing weight if needed. In many people, lifestyle changes also treat high blood pressure without needing medication.

Prescription medications

If lifestyle changes don't help or you already have dangerously high blood pressure, Dr. Balasubramanian prescribes medications to lower the pressure.

Remote patient monitoring (RPM)

RPM uses advanced technology to track your blood pressure in real time as you go about your normal activities. In addition to getting an accurate blood pressure reading, RPM can alert Dr. Balasubramanian when your blood pressure spikes.

Minimally invasive surgery

If you have blocked arteries, Dr. Balasubramanian refers you to a cardiac specialist with experience in minimally invasive procedures to remove the blockage.

If it's time to have your blood pressure checked or you need ongoing care, call Anand Balasubramanian, MD, PA, or request an appointment online today.