Hypertension

offered in Little Neck, NY

Hypertension services offered in Little Neck, NY

Hypertension (high blood pressure) doesn’t cause symptoms until it leads to a serious health condition that puts you at risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Board-certified internist Michael Hundert, MD, in the Little Neck neighborhood of Queens, New York, helps you prevent hypertension and protects your health with expert disease management if the disease develops. Call the New York City office or request an in-person or telemedicine appointment online today for comprehensive medical care for hypertension.

Hypertension Q & A

What causes hypertension?

Hypertension occurs when the force of blood flowing through your arteries is higher than normal. The cause of your hypertension depends on the type:

Primary hypertension

Primary hypertension develops slowly over many years of unhealthy habits, including:

Consuming too much salt
Consuming too little potassium
Not getting regular exercise
Living with a lot of stress
Smoking cigarettes
Being overweight or obese

Each lifestyle issue affects blood pressure through different mechanisms. For example, too much dietary salt raises fluids and blood volume, which increases blood pressure.

Secondary hypertension

Secondary hypertension occurs when an underlying health condition like sleep apnea, kidney disease, or a thyroid disorder causes high blood pressure. This type accounts for 2% to 10% of all cases of hypertension.

What are the symptoms of hypertension?

You can have hypertension for years without knowing because it doesn’t cause symptoms. Though it takes years, hypertension eventually causes serious health conditions. You may experience symptoms when they reach an advanced stage, but all too often, the first sign is a heart attack or stroke.

How does hypertension affect my health?

High blood pressure damages the artery walls, creating rough areas that make it easy for cholesterol to take hold. Once cholesterol attaches to the wall, the fatty plaque enlarges and hardens, a condition called atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis narrows the artery and limits blood flow, leading to the following serious health conditions:

Coronary artery disease (limits blood flow to your heart)
Carotid artery disease (limits blood flow to your brain)
Renal artery stenosis (limits blood flow to your kidneys)
Peripheral artery disease (limits blood flow to your legs)

Though these conditions represent some of the top causes of death, you can prevent them with wellness care.

How is hypertension treated?

After thoroughly evaluating your medical history and lifestyle habits and completing a physical exam, Dr. Hundert creates a personalized treatment plan that includes:

Lifestyle modifications

Lifestyle modifications, such as changing your diet, getting exercise, and losing weight, can prevent hypertension from developing. In many cases, they also restore normal blood pressure after the disease develops.

Medication

If lifestyle changes don’t help or your blood pressure is dangerously high when it’s diagnosed, Dr. Hundert prescribes medication to treat hypertension.

Call the office of Michael Hundert, MD, or book an appointment online today.