Hypertension Specialist
Southland Renal Medical Group > Our Services > Hypertension
Southland Renal Medical Group
Nephrologists located in the Greater Long Beach and Orange County, CA Area
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is one of the most common causes of kidney disease. The experienced team at Southland Renal Medical Group, with kidney treatment centers in Long Beach, Downey, Fountain Valley, and Los Alamitos, California, specializes in the diagnosis and management of kidney disease, no matter the cause, and can provide treatment to help you successfully manage both it and your hypertension. For expert care of your hypertension induced kidney disease, schedule an appointment online or by phone today.
Hypertension Q & A
What is hypertension?
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a chronic health condition that causes the pressure of the blood against your blood vessel walls to be higher than normal. Hypertension is very common and affects more than 100 million Americans. Unlike most chronic health conditions hypertension doesn’t cause symptoms, and the only way to know if your blood pressure is higher than normal is to have it checked. For good health, you should have a blood pressure screening at least once a year.
How does hypertension affect kidney health?
Hypertension is one of the leading causes of kidney disease. When your blood pressure is chronically high, it causes the tiny blood vessels in your kidneys to stretch, which leads to scarring and weakness. Over time, these tiny blood vessels may become so damaged that they can no longer clear waste and fluids from your blood, leading to kidney disease.
How do I know if I have kidney disease?
If you have hypertension, your primary care physician may conduct a urine test to screen for protein. If you have high levels of protein in your urine, then you most likely have kidney damage.
To assess the severity of your kidney damage, your physician at Southland Renal Medical Group conducts a blood test to assess your glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which measures your level of kidney function. Unlike most chronic health conditions hypertension doesn’t cause symptoms, and the only way to know if your blood pressure is higher than normal is to have it checked. For good health, you should have a blood pressure screening at least once a year.
How can I manage hypertension and kidney disease?
Management of your hypertension and kidney disease may depend on the stage of your kidney disease. In the early stages, your physician at Southland Renal Medical Group may be able to stop or slow down the progression of your kidney disease by helping you manage your hypertension with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, a type of blood pressure medication. You may also be referred to a dietitian to help you make changes to your diet to improve blood pressure control and kidney function.
If you’re in kidney failure, your physician can talk to you about your treatment options, which includes dialysis or kidney transplantation.
For the management of your hypertension and kidney disease, call Southland Renal Medical Group or book an appointment online today. Unlike most chronic health conditions hypertension doesn’t cause symptoms, and the only way to know if your blood pressure is higher than normal is to have it checked. For good health, you should have a blood pressure screening at least once a year.