NEWS & MEDIA

Here at Kidney and Hypertension, we take an individualized approach to diagnosing and treating your hypertension. Our goal is to provide personalized care tailored to your specific needs, whether you have primary (essential) hypertension, resistant hypertension, or secondary hypertension caused by an underlying condition.

Below are some helpful tools to give you the knowledge and power to take control of your blood pressure!

• Understanding Your Hypertension Type – Learn what’s driving your high blood pressure and how it affects your health.
• Diet & Lifestyle Tips – Discover heart-healthy eating habits, exercise recommendations, and stress management techniques.
• Medication Guidance – Get insights on common blood pressure medications, their benefits, and how they work.
• Home Blood Pressure Monitoring – Learn how to check your blood pressure accurately and track your progress.

Our team is here to empower you with the right tools, knowledge, and medical support to achieve better blood pressure control and long-term health!

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, happens when the force of blood against your artery walls is too high. Over time, this can damage your heart, kidneys, and other organs.

The ACC/AHA guidelines recommend a universal blood pressure goal of less than 130/80 mmHg for adults with confirmed hypertension and known cardiovascular disease (CVD) or a high 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Here's a more detailed breakdown of the ACC/AHA blood pressure guidelines:Blood Pressure Categories:

• Normal: Systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 120 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) < 80 mmHg.
• Elevated: SBP 120-129 mmHg and DBP < 80 mmHg.
• Stage 1 Hypertension: SBP 130-139 mmHg or DBP 80-89 mmHg.
• Stage 2 Hypertension: SBP ≥ 140 mmHg or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg. 
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Why is Managing Blood Pressure Important?

• Increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.
• Often called the "silent killer" because it may not cause symptoms.

How to Manage Hypertension?

✅ Eat a low-sodium, heart-healthy diet 🥦
✅ Exercise regularly 🏋️‍♀️
✅ Take prescribed medications 💊
✅ Monitor your blood pressure at home 📊    - PRINT BP LOG HERE
✅ Reduce stress & improve sleep 😴

A hypertension-friendly diet helps control blood pressure and reduce strain on your heart and blood vessels. The key focus is on:

• Lowering sodium – Too much salt causes the body to retain fluid, increasing blood pressure. Aim for less than 2,300 mg per day (or 1,500 mg for optimal control).
• Increasing potassium – Foods rich in potassium (like bananas, oranges, and leafy greens) help balance sodium levels and relax blood vessels.
• Eating more whole foods – Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
• Limiting saturated fats and sugar – Reducing processed foods, fried foods, and sugary drinks helps protect the heart.
• Following the DASH diet – The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) plan emphasizes balanced, heart-healthy eating to naturally lower blood pressure.
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Maintaining a healthy weight and staying active also help keep blood pressure in check.

Secondary hypertension is high blood pressure caused by an underlying medical condition or medication. Unlike primary (essential) hypertension, which develops gradually, secondary hypertension often appears suddenly and may be more severe.

Common Causes of Secondary Hypertension

• Kidney disease (chronic kidney disease, renal artery stenosis, fibromuscular dysplasia)
• Hormonal disorders (Cushing’s syndrome, primary aldosteronism, pheochromocytoma)
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Thyroid or parathyroid disorders
• Certain medications (NSAIDs, decongestants, hormonal birth control, steroids, stimulants)

Why is Secondary Hypertension Important?

• Secondary hypertension may be reversible if the underlying cause is treated.
• It requires specific testing to identify the root cause.
• If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications like heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage.

What is ABPM?
24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is a test that measures your blood pressure throughout the day and night while you go about your normal activities. It provides a more accurate picture of your blood pressure patterns than a single reading taken in a doctor’s office. 

How Does It Work?

• A small, portable blood pressure monitor is worn on your waist or shoulder.
• A cuff is placed on your upper arm and inflates at set intervals (typically every 15-30 minutes during the day and 30-60 minutes at night).
• The device automatically records blood pressure readings over 24 hours while you go about your daily routine and sleep.

Why is ABPM Used?

• Diagnose Hypertension Accurately – Helps confirm or rule out high blood pressure, especially for those with white coat hypertension (high readings only in a doctor’s office) or masked hypertension (normal in-office but high at home).
• Monitor Treatment Effectiveness – Evaluates how well blood pressure medications are working throughout the day and night.
• Detect Nighttime Hypertension – Identifies abnormal nighttime blood pressure patterns, which can increase the risk of heart and kidney disease.
• Assess Dipping Status – Normally, blood pressure should drop by 10-20% at night ("dipping"). ABPM helps detect non-dipping or reverse dipping, which is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular events.

Benefits of ABPM

• Provides a more reliable diagnosis than office readings.
• Detects blood pressure fluctuations throughout the day and night.
• Helps guide personalized treatment plans.

This test is especially useful for people with suspected resistant hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, or unexplained symptoms like dizziness or fainting. 

As part of the Baylor Heart and Vascular Hypertension Center we can discuss if this is the next step for you! Please call us or ask your provider at our next appt to find out more.