Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Hypertension is the single biggest driver of stroke, heart attack, and kidney disease - and it is almost always silent until it causes damage. At MVM, we take blood pressure seriously, control it precisely, and look for the causes other clinics miss.
What is hypertension?
Hypertension is persistently elevated pressure inside the arteries. By current guidelines, blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg or higher on multiple readings is considered hypertension. The number on top (systolic) is the pressure when the heart contracts; the number on the bottom (diastolic) is the pressure when the heart rests between beats.
Most hypertension has no single identifiable cause - this is called primary or essential hypertension. A smaller but important subset is secondary hypertension, where a specific condition such as sleep apnea, kidney artery narrowing, or a hormone disorder is driving the numbers.
Hypertension is dangerous because it works silently. The arteries, heart, kidneys, and brain are all affected long before symptoms appear. Treating it well doesn't just lower the number on the cuff - it lowers the risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, and dementia.
How MVM treats hypertension.
Patients and referring physicians choose MVM for hypertension because we treat it as a cardiovascular condition, not a checkbox - with the workup, the medication strategy, and the follow-up to actually get numbers to goal.
- Same-week consults. New hypertension patients are typically seen within 5 business days. Severely elevated pressures are triaged for same-day evaluation when possible.
- Accurate measurement. Standardized in-office technique, plus home BP review and 24-hour ambulatory monitoring when needed - because office readings alone can mislead.
- Resistant hypertension expertise. If you're on multiple medications and still not at goal, we work through secondary causes that often get missed: sleep apnea, kidney artery disease, primary aldosteronism, and more.
- Targeted medication strategy. The right drug class for your age, kidney function, and comorbidities - not a one-size-fits-all prescription.
- Cardiac and vascular co-management. Because long-standing hypertension damages the heart, kidneys, and arteries, we screen for and manage what it has done elsewhere.
- One specialist, full continuum. The doctor who diagnoses you also manages your medications and follow-up.
Schedule a hypertension consultation.
Most patients are seen within a week. Bring two weeks of home blood pressure readings if possible, your medication list, and any recent labs.
Schedule a consultationSend us a hypertension referral.
Same-week consults for resistant or uncontrolled hypertension; we focus on secondary workups and complex regimens. Closed-loop reporting back to your office within 48 hours.
Referral processCommon hypertension symptoms.
Hypertension is usually silent - which is exactly what makes it dangerous. When symptoms do appear, they often signal that pressure is severely elevated or that damage has already started.
- Most patients feel nothing - diagnosis is usually made from a routine reading
- Headaches, particularly at the back of the head
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Blurred or doubled vision
- Chest pain or shortness of breath with very high readings
- Nosebleeds in some patients
- Fatigue or reduced exercise tolerance
- Pounding sensation in the chest, neck, or ears
Who is most at risk.
- Family history of high blood pressure
- Age - risk rises steadily after 40
- Obesity and sedentary lifestyle
- High-sodium diet
- Heavy alcohol use
- Chronic stress and poor sleep
- Obstructive sleep apnea - a common, often-missed driver
- Kidney disease or adrenal disorders
How we diagnose hypertension at MVM.
Most patients leave their first visit with a clear diagnosis - and a plan.
- Standardized in-office measurement - proper cuff, proper position, multiple readings
- Home blood pressure review - your readings over time tell a fuller story
- 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring when in-office and home readings disagree
- EKG and echocardiogram - to check whether the heart has been affected
- Basic labs - kidney function, electrolytes, lipids, and glucose
- Secondary workup when indicated - renal artery imaging, aldosterone testing, sleep study referral
Treatment options.
Hypertension is highly treatable. The goal is consistent, controlled readings - not just an occasional good number - because the cardiovascular benefit comes from sustained control.
Lifestyle and medical management
Lifestyle change matters: a lower-sodium, plant-forward diet (the DASH pattern), regular aerobic activity, weight reduction when appropriate, limiting alcohol, and treating sleep apnea. Most patients also need medication. Common first-line classes include ACE inhibitors or ARBs, calcium channel blockers, and thiazide diuretics; the choice depends on your age, kidney function, and other conditions.
For resistant or complex cases
If your pressure remains elevated on three or more medications, we look harder:
- Secondary cause workup - sleep apnea, renal artery stenosis, primary aldosteronism, thyroid disease
- Medication optimization - adding a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist or a long-acting vasodilator where appropriate
- Ambulatory monitoring - to distinguish true resistant hypertension from white-coat effect
Recovery and ongoing care
Hypertension is a lifelong condition for most patients, but it is very manageable. Once you're at goal, we typically see you every 3–6 months and watch labs at the same interval. Between visits, home readings are the most important thing you can do.
When to see a cardiologist.
- Blood pressure that won't come to goal despite multiple medications
- Wide swings in pressure or unexplained spikes
- Hypertension in someone under 40 or over 65 with new onset
- Imaging or labs suggesting end-organ damage (heart, kidneys, brain)
- A history of stroke, heart attack, or heart failure with uncontrolled BP
If your blood pressure is over 180/120 with symptoms like chest pain, severe headache, vision change, weakness, or trouble speaking - this is a hypertensive emergency. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
Hypertension FAQs.
What blood pressure number is considered high?
Current U.S. guidelines call 130/80 mmHg or higher hypertension. The specific goal for your treatment depends on your age and other conditions; we set that goal with you at the first visit.
Do I have to take medication forever?
For most patients, yes - hypertension is a long-term condition. That said, some patients can reduce or simplify their regimen with sustained weight loss, treatment of sleep apnea, or major dietary change. We don't add medication you don't need.
Why are my home readings different from the office?
Home readings are often more accurate than office readings, and they capture how your pressure behaves throughout the day. If the two disagree consistently, a 24-hour ambulatory monitor sorts it out.
Can lifestyle alone control my blood pressure?
Sometimes - especially in mild cases. A lower-sodium diet, regular exercise, weight loss, and limiting alcohol can reduce blood pressure significantly. For most patients with established hypertension, lifestyle plus medication is the right plan.
What is resistant hypertension?
Blood pressure that stays above goal despite three different medication classes, one of which should be a diuretic. It is often caused by a secondary, treatable condition - which is why a thorough workup matters when standard treatment isn't working.
Schedule a hypertension consultation.
Most new patients are seen within a week. Bring two weeks of home blood pressure readings if possible, the medication list, and any recent labs - we'll do the rest.