What Causes High Blood Pressure and How It’s Treated

At Palmetto Internal Medicine & Primary Care in Mauldin, SC, we help adults and seniors understand hypertension and take practical steps to control it. Hypertension can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and vision complications, but consistent monitoring and a personalized plan can significantly reduce those risks.

What Hypertension Means

Blood pressure measures the force of blood moving through your arteries. When arteries narrow or stiffen, blood meets more resistance, which raises blood pressure. For many adults, a healthy reading stays around 120/80. Higher readings over time can indicate hypertension, even when you feel fine.

Common Causes of High Blood Pressure

We often see hypertension develop from a combination of genetics and lifestyle factors. Genetics can increase baseline risk, but a frequent driver is plaque buildup in the arteries. As fatty plaques accumulate, the arteries narrow and blood pressure rises. Other contributors include excess sodium intake, sedentary habits, chronic stress, alcohol overuse, tobacco use, and conditions such as sleep apnea or kidney disease.

Symptoms We Take Seriously

Hypertension often causes no symptoms, which is why many people call it the silent killer. Some patients still notice warning signs, including dizziness, headaches, facial flushing, blood spots in the eyes, or mild chest discomfort. We encourage evaluation if these symptoms appear, especially if you already have a history of elevated readings.

How We Treat Hypertension 

We build treatment around your numbers, your risk factors, and your overall health. Lifestyle measures often play a central role, including regular exercise, weight management, reduced sodium intake, limiting alcohol, avoiding tobacco, and stress management techniques. We also recommend regular blood pressure checks so we can track trends and adjust your plan.

Medications often become part of treatment, especially when lifestyle changes do not lower readings enough. Common medication categories include:

• Diuretics to reduce excess fluid
• ACE inhibitors to relax blood vessels
• Beta blockers to reduce heart workload
• Calcium channel blockers to relax blood vessels and slow heart rate

We select medications based on your medical history and any coexisting conditions, then we monitor responses and side effects closely.

When to Schedule A Visit

We often identify hypertension during routine physicals, which is why we recommend at least annual primary care visits. You should also schedule an appointment sooner if you experience chest pain, breathing difficulties, dizziness, or chronic headaches.

Schedule A Blood Pressure Check in Mauldin, SC

If you have concerns about hypertension or you want help building a plan to control your numbers, we are here to help. Contact Palmetto Internal Medicine & Primary Care in Mauldin, SC at 864-277-8300 to schedule an appointment and review your blood pressure, risk factors, and treatment options.