High Blood Pressure

If you have high blood pressure, you should contact Versailles Family Medicine.  We’re conveniently located at 460 Wilson Avenue in Versailles and at 324 North Gratz Street in Midway.  Call our office at (859) 879-0111.

Hypertension is the medical name for high blood pressure, which occurs when your blood pressure reaches 140/90 or higher.  When your blood pressure is this high, blood moves through your arteries with more force than normal.  After a while, high blood pressure can cause damage to your arteries and blood vessels, increasing your risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke.

Often called the silent killer, there are few symptoms of high blood pressure.  Sometimes, vision issues or headaches may occur, but if you’re experiencing those, chances are your blood pressure has been high for a long while.

If hypertension is left untreated for too long, it can have significant impacts on your body.  Not only does it make the heart work harder and damage your arteries, it’s also a leading cause of:

• Heart attacks
• Strokes
• Vision loss
• Kidney disease
• Sexual dysfunction

What is a healthy blood pressure reading? The pressure with each heart contraction is called systolic blood pressure and the pressure between the contractions is called diastolic blood pressure.  These numbers are expressed in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).  Healthy blood pressure is under 120 systolic and under 80 diastolic, which is a reading of less than 120/80 mm Hg.

High blood pressure is generally divided into levels, with higher always being worse.  If your blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or higher, it’s a medical emergency called a hypertensive crisis.  Reach out for help immediately in this situation.

At Versailles Family Medicine, we’ll determine your high blood pressure treatment based on a variety of things.  These will include how high your blood pressure actually is, your overall health and your family history.  By eating a heart-healthy, low sodium diet and exercising at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week, you can lower your blood pressure without the need for medication.  There may be situations in which lifestyle changes don’t lower your blood pressure to healthy levels, so we may prescribe medication if you need it.  It’s always best to stay mindful of your health at all times whether you take hypertension medication or not.

We will also recommend that you get a blood pressure monitor to use at home.  These simple devices include a cuff that you place around your upper arm and inflate to get the daily reading.  A member of our team checks your blood pressure during every office visit.

We can help you lower your blood pressure at Versailles Family Medicine.  We’re committed to providing high quality care that you can trust.  We strive to provide the absolute best care for our patients.  PA-C Jared Harper, PA-C Claire Schack and PA-C Elizabeth Watts see patients in our Versailles office.  PA-C Jenna Daniel and APRN Lena Nickell see patients in our Midway office.  Dr. Brian Smith and APRN Sammi Nichols see patients in our Versailles and Midway offices.

Contact Versailles Family Medicine by calling (859) 879-0111.  We’re open Monday through Thursday from 8:00am – 8:00pm and until 5:00pm on Friday at 460 Wilson Avenue in Versailles.  Our Midway office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00am – 5:00pm.