Hypertension

High Blood Pressure Management

High blood pressure—or hypertension—and kidney disease are closely related. Healthy kidneys help maintain normal blood pressure, and high blood pressure can damage the kidneys as well.

At Lahey Hospital & Medical Center we have nephrologists (kidney specialists) with expertise in managing blood pressure and protecting kidney health. They work closely with your primary care provider and others who help manage your blood pressure.

Blood Pressure Measurement

You can arrange to come to our offices to have a nurse check your blood pressure, and we also teach our patients how to take blood pressure readings at home. In some patients, we may recommend getting a 24-hour blood pressure monitor to better diagnose and manage your blood pressure.

The Lifestyle-Blood Pressure Link

Many factors may cause or contribute to high blood pressure. There may be genetic links or it can be tied to illnesses such as diabetes or kidney disease.

High blood pressure can be linked to:

• Diet (especially a high salt diet)
• Excessive alcohol use
• Excess weight
• Lack of physical activity
• Smoking

We work with you to find what factors might be causing your blood pressure to rise and what you can do about them.

Blood Pressure Medications

Many medications are available to help you control your blood pressure. Our physicians will help determine which medicines are likely to work best for you.

Hard-To-Treat Blood Pressure

Some people take medication and make lifestyle changes, but still find their blood pressure remains high. This is called resistant hypertension. We’ll work to find the cause, whether it’s hormone abnormalities, buildup of plaque in the arteries supplying blood to your kidneys, or something else, and will help formulate a management and treatment plan that works for you.