Hypertension management
Washington, DC
Be proactive with your health.
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, often has no outward symptoms until it reaches a crisis level, so many people don’t even know they have it. This can sometimes lead to irreversible organ damage. Monitoring your blood pressure, and managing it if the levels become high, can help lower your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.
Dr. Beaton can help you manage hypertension with prescription medications, lifestyle recommendations, and regular monitoring. Whether you are struggling with hypertension currently, or want to monitor your blood pressure to prevent greater health concerns, Dr. Beaton is here to support you.
Understanding Hypertension
What is hypertension?
Hypertension is defined as blood pressure ≥130/80 mm Hg, according to the 2017 high blood pressure guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for hypertension in adults 18 years of age and older to identify those at increased risk for cardiovascular disease from hypertension and to begin early interventions to decrease this risk.
“A diagnosis of hypertension should be based on an average of two or more elevated systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure measurements obtained on two or more occasions; obtaining measurements outside of the clinical setting for diagnostic confirmation is recommended before starting treatment.” — American College of Physicians
What do the blood pressure measurements mean?
Blood pressure measurements are represented as two numbers. The top (systolic) number measures blood pressure when your heart beats. The lower (diastolic) number measures blood pressure when your heart rests between beats.
Treating hypertension will help prevent greater health risks.
On a day-to-day basis, you might not notice many complications of hypertension. But when left untreated, the condition slowly damages your internal organs. With time, unmanaged high blood pressure contributes to different issues such as Metabolic syndrome, heart disease, heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, vision loss, and trouble with memory and understanding. If hypertension is a concern, Dr. Beaton can support you in monitoring and managing your blood pressure.