High Blood Pressure Specialist
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Premier Care Clinics
Robert DiMasi, DO
Family Medicine located in Oldsmar, FL
Hypertension is known as a symptomless, silent killer. However, Dr. Robert DiMasi screens for high blood pressure at every appointment at Premier Care Clinics in Oldsmar, Florida. The sneaky disorder won’t escape his notice, and he can treat it with simple lifestyle adjustments and medication. Call or click to schedule a blood pressure screening today!
High Blood Pressure Q & A
What is high blood pressure?
Blood pressure measures the force of your blood against your artery walls each time your heart beats. Blood pressure readings list your systolic blood pressure on top and your diastolic blood pressure on the bottom.
Systolic blood pressure measures the force when your heart beats, while diastolic blood pressure measures the force when your heart is at rest. A blood pressure reading of 119/79 or lower is considered normal.
Readings over 140/90 are considered high blood pressure, also called hypertension. Any readings between 120-139/80-89 indicate prehypertension.
High blood pressure indicates that the pressure against your artery walls is too high and could cause damage.
What are the dangers of hypertension?
Hypertension causes the heart and blood vessels to work too hard. The extra pressure also starts to damage blood vessel walls, making way for plaque buildup and atherosclerosis.
High blood pressure increases your risk for:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Vision loss
- Kidney disease
- Sexual dysfunction
How do you diagnose hypertension?
Every time you see Dr. DiMasi, you get your blood pressure checked with the blood pressure cuff. This routine test is the best way to detect hypertension.
Dr. DiMasi may check your blood pressure multiple times before making a hypertension diagnosis. He may take a reading in both arms multiple times, at multiple visits, to account for daily fluctuations.
What treatment options are available for high blood pressure?
Treatment for high blood pressure involves lifestyle adjustments and medication to keep your blood pressure within the normal range.
Lifestyle adjustments
Healthy dietary adjustments, including limiting salt, help many men and women manage hypertension. Exercise, smoking cessation, and weight loss also provide considerable benefits for the heart, and Dr. DiMasi recommends this approach first.
Medication
If you can’t control your blood pressure with lifestyle changes alone, you may need blood pressure medication. ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, diuretics, and calcium channel blockers are usually among the first lines of treatment, but many more blood pressure medications are also available.
Call or click the online booking tool to schedule a blood pressure screening at the Oldsmar, Florida, clinic.
