Board Certified Cardiologist & Cardiovascular Physician located in Princeton, NJ & Hamilton Square, NJ
High blood pressure is known as a silent killer because it doesn’t typically cause symptoms but internally does serious damage to your heart, arteries, and other bodily systems. At NJ Heart & Vascular Care in Princeton and Hamilton, New Jersey, Kintur Sanghvi, MD, FACC, FSCAI, has spent a large portion of his career researching and treating high blood pressure. He offers conventional and alternative treatments to help you manage high blood pressure and avoid complications. If you have high blood pressure or are at risk of developing it, call the office or book an appointment online today.
High Blood Pressure Q & A
What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when your blood pumps too forcefully through your artery walls. It usually develops over time and can lead to significant health complications, including heart attack and stroke.
How do I know if I have high blood pressure?
You won’t have symptoms of high blood pressure until it reaches very advanced stages. The only way to know if you have it is to check your levels regularly.
The team at NJ Heart & Vascular Care checks your blood pressure at every visit. If your readings are consistently higher than 130/80 mm Hg, you’re diagnosed with high blood pressure.
If your blood pressure consistently measures higher than 120/80 mm Hg, Dr. Sanghvi may also be concerned as your levels will reach hypertensive levels if you don’t take action to control them.
Who is at risk of developing high blood pressure?
Controllable factors that contribute to your risk of hypertension include:
Excessive stress
Overweight or obesity
Sedentary lifestyle
Dietary choices, such as too much sodium
Genetics, having diabetes, and being of middle or older age can also raise your risk. If you have any of these risk factors, it’s a good idea to get evaluated for high blood pressure and other possible health conditions.
Certain conditions, such as renal artery stenosis (kidney artery blockage), can also cause hypertension. Dr. Sanghvi has researched and published literature on this secondary cause of high blood pressure.
How is high blood pressure treated?
A primary goal of treatment for high blood pressure is to get your numbers into a normal range. It may be recommended that you make lifestyle adjustments, such as increasing physical activity, losing weight, and adjusting your diet.
Certain prescription medications can help lower your blood pressure numbers. The medication you’re prescribed depends on your health history, the suspected cause of your blood pressure, and the severity of your high blood pressure.
Dr. Sanghvi also has vast expertise in understanding the treatment of renal hypertension, especially newer, alternative options such as kidney nerve ablation.
Is there an alternative to taking medications?
Lifestyle changes such as controlling salt and alcohol intake, quitting tobacco use, the DASH diet, regular aerobic exercise, or practicing yoga or pilates can lower the blood pressure and are very effective in controlling blood pressure and for your overall well being.
Dr. Sanghvi has the highest experience of a new investigational therapy for high blood pressure called renal denervation. He was the primary investigator for the trial that investigated a minimally invasive procedure to control blood pressure. Patients treated with this new procedure had less requirement of medication and very good blood pressure control achieved with less number of medications.
If you’re concerned about high blood pressure, make an appointment at NJ Heart & Vascular Care. Call the office or use the online tool to schedule today.
Endovascular Ultrasound Renal Denervation to Treat Hypertension
