High Blood Pressure

Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital

Email Hypertension Center Call 214.820.7148

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Managing high blood pressure

When you have high blood pressure, the force of blood against your artery walls is too strong, making the heart work extra hard to move blood

Although high blood pressure has no symptoms, over time it can damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes and other organs. Controlling high blood pressure can help prevent this damage.

Specialized treatment for hypertension

The Hypertension Center at Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital - Dallas provides diagnosis and treatment options to manage hypertension, or high blood pressure. Through the center, patients will be connected to a care team specially trained in hypertension treatment.

It is important to manage high blood pressure to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. That’s why we are committed to involving the patient and their primary care physician in a personalized treatment plan involving education and achievable lifestyle changes.

Take the first step in managing your high blood pressure by emailing our Hypertension Center.

Risk factors for high blood pressure

If you have any of these risk factors, you should make extra efforts to lower your blood pressure:

Your parent, brother or sister has high blood pressure or heart disease
You have diabetes, heart disease or kidney disease

Certain lifestyle factors can increase the risk of high blood pressure and heart problems. The key to a healthier you is to change as many of these risk factors as you can:

Choose foods that are low in salt and low in saturated (animal) fat
Get plenty of exercise. Make your goal 30 minutes of activity every day
Maintain a healthy weight
Don't smoke
Limit alcohol to two drinks per day

Checking your blood pressure

You can have your blood pressure checked at your physician's office, at a health fair or you can even check it yourself at home

As a cuff is inflated around your arm, your blood pressure is measured as your heart pumps and between beats.

Ideal blood pressure for most adults:
Less than 120/80

What the blood pressure numbers mean

A blood pressure check gives two numbers, one over the other. If either the top or bottom number is consistently above what is considered normal, you may have high blood pressure.

The top number is pressure when the heart beats (systolic). The bottom number is the pressure when the heart is at rest (diastolic). Ask your physician or healthcare provider what blood pressure numbers are healthy for you.

You can check your own blood pressure with an in-home blood pressure monitor.

Read and follow the blood pressure monitor instructions carefully
Sit and relax for a few minutes
Take your blood pressure. Wait five minutes, then take it again on the same arm
Keep a log of your results

Medication for high blood pressure

Your physician may prescribe medication to help lower your blood pressure. Some types of blood pressure medications act on the heart and blood vessels; others remove excess fluid or salt from the body.

Your physician will choose the best blood pressure medicine(s) for you. Be sure to continue with all parts of your treatment plan while taking the medication.

Taking medication properly

Be sure to take your medication at the same time each day
Write yourself notes, use an alarm or keep your pills by your toothbrush to remember to take them
Ask your physician what you should do if you miss a pill
Never stop taking your medication unless your physician tells you to stop. Stopping on your own could be harmful

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