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Hypertension Specialist

Wellness Medicine McKinney Sunila Philips, MD, FAAFP Our Services Hypertension
Sunila Philips, MD, FAAFP - - Family Medicine

Wellness Medicine McKinney

Sunila Philips, MD, FAAFP

Family Medicine & Medical Spa located in McKinney, TX

Approximately a third of American adults have hypertension, increasing their risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. At Wellness Medicine McKinney in McKinney, Texas, Sunila Philips, MD, FAAFP, offers a comprehensive, patient-focused approach to hypertension treatment and management. If you’re ready to take charge of your health and reduce your blood pressure, call Wellness Medicine McKinney or request an appointment online today.

Hypertension Q&A

What is hypertension?

Hypertension is another term for high blood pressure, and it occurs when your blood creates too much force against the insides of your blood vessels. Blood pressure is measured in two numbers that represent the force when your heart beats — your systolic pressure — and when your heart rests between beats — your diastolic pressure. 

A healthy blood pressure reading is 120/80 or lower. Anything higher is considered elevated, and once your blood pressure surpasses 130/80, you have hypertension — your risk of health complications increases as your blood pressure increases.

Hypertension is sometimes called a silent killer because it doesn’t usually cause any noticeable symptoms until you have a heart attack, stroke, or another dangerous cardiac event. 

What causes hypertension?

While your genes and family medical history contribute to your risk of hypertension, your lifestyle can significantly impact your chances of developing this dangerous health condition. For example, some of the most common risk factors for high blood pressure include:

  • Being overweight or obese
  • Leading a sedentary lifestyle
  • Smoking
  • Eating a high-salt, high-fat diet
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Having high stress levels

Health conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, and sleep apnea also contribute to hypertension. 

The good news is that you can control almost all of these risk factors. Even if you have a genetic predisposition to hypertension, you can significantly reduce your risk of developing the condition and lower your blood pressure with healthy lifestyle choices. 

How is high blood pressure treated?

Dr. Philips and the team at Wellness Medicine McKinney provide a comprehensive approach to treating hypertension. They use lifestyle medicine and modifications to help you understand the mind-body connection between the food you eat and your health. If your blood pressure continues to be uncontrolled in spite of lifestyle changes, Dr. Philips may prescribe medication to lower it.

Your wellness plan enables you to break your addiction to unhealthy food choices, which ultimately leads to reduced blood pressure, weight loss, and overall improved health. 

Your wellness program is customized to meet your specific needs and may include:

  • Dietary changes
  • More physical activity
  • Smoking cessation 
  • Sleep improvement
  • Stress management techniques
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy

If you’re concerned about hypertension or want to improve your health and wellness, call Wellness Medicine McKinney or request an appointment online today.