Hypertension Management

What is it?

Blood pressure refers to the force your blood exerts against the walls of the vessels which carry blood away from the heart (arteries) to the rest of the body.  High blood pressure (hypertension) makes the heart work harder to pump blood and is the leading cause of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. It can also lead to vision problems or kidney failure if left untreated. Essential hypertension refers to high blood pressure caused by factors that cannot be identified. Secondary hypertension can be traced to identifiable risk factors, which may include smoking, obesity, unhealthy diet, stress, thyroid diseases, or even a family history of hypertension.

Often an effective treatment may be as simple as a lifestyle change – losing weight, quitting smoking or cutting back on sodium in the diet. High blood pressure can also be treated through careful medical management.  More complex evaluation and treatment may be required  for patients who have hypertension that cannot be controlled with medications.

The Loyola difference

Loyola offers a team of cardiologists who are also board-certified in clinical lipidology, providing them with unique expertise in advanced management of blood pressure, cholesterol, and other cardiac conditions which may lead to serious cardiac events.  These specialists work with a team of experienced nephrologists to evaluate and treat hypertension.

Loyola is a nationally recognized leader in cardiac care. U.S. News & World Report ranked us 18th in the nation for cardiology and heart surgery in 2012, making this our 10th year in the top 50.

Learn more about our performance outcomes.