High Blood Pressure Doctor: Best Specialist and BP Readings
Basically, high blood pressure is a silent killer because most high blood pressure patients can live for many years without feeling any symptoms. If you are not aware of it, you may suddenly develop serious complications such as a heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney problems, and eye problems.
It is very important to check your blood pressure reading regularly, depending on your age and overall health. A few people with high blood pressure may feel symptoms like headache, shortness of breath, and nosebleeds.
If you go through this evidence-based article, you should know about high blood pressure doctor specialty approach and important high blood pressure readings.
High Blood Pressure Doctor: Who Should You Consult?
For so many people, the common question is, “Does high blood pressure mean a heart problem?” Then, definitely you may have a doubt: “Should I consult a cardiologist or a general physician?” In the long run, high blood pressure may lead to heart problems, but high blood pressure is not a heart problem.
If you have high blood pressure, the first doctor to consult is a General Physician or an Internal Medicine Specialist. They can diagnose low or high blood pressure, start the right treatment, and, if required, they suggest specialist doctors as per your health condition.
Condition |
Specialty Doctor |
| Newly detected high BP | General Physician / Internal Medicine |
| Repeated high BP readings | General Physician / Internal Medicine |
| High BP with chest pain | Emergency Physician / Cardiologist |
| High BP with breathlessness or palpitations | Cardiologist / Internal Medicine |
| High BP with kidney disease | Nephrologist / Internal Medicine |
| High BP with diabetes or thyroid disease | Internal Medicine / Endocrinologist |
| High BP during pregnancy | Obstetrician / Gynecologist |
| Stroke-like symptoms with high BP | Emergency Physician / Neurologist |
| Low BP with fainting | Emergency Physician / Internal Medicine |
High Blood Pressure Readings
High blood pressure is known as hypertension. There are a few categories of blood pressure. You can find your blood pressure category by checking the blood pressure readings with two numbers.
Blood pressure numbers
Blood pressure measured by using two numbers.
Systolic blood pressure (Top/Upper Number):
It shows the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats and pumps blood to the rest of your body. The normal systolic blood pressure number is below 120 mmHg.
Diastolic blood pressure (Bottom/Lower Number):
It shows the pressure in your arteries when your heart is resting between beats. The normal diastolic blood pressure number is below 80 mmHg.
Categories of Blood Pressure
Normal Blood Pressure
| Normal Blood Pressure | <120 mm Hg |
| <80 mm Hg |
If you have normal blood pressure, you can continue your regular healthy lifestyle, such as:
- Take a balanced diet.
- Exercise regularly.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Avoid smoking and limit your alcohol intake.
Elevated Blood Pressure
| Elevated Blood Pressure | 120 – 129 mm Hg |
| <80 mm Hg |
If you have elevated blood pressure, you can start or continue your regular healthy lifestyle to prevent stage 1 hypertension. such as:
- Take a balanced diet.
- Exercise regularly.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Reduce salt intake.
- Avoid smoking and limit your alcohol intake.
Stage 1 Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
| Stage 1 Hypertension | 130 – 139 mm Hg |
| 80 – 89 mm Hg |
If you have stage 1 hypertension, Doctor usually suggest healthy life style, depending on health risk. They also prescribe blood pressure medications as per your health condition.
Stage 2 Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
| Stage 2 Hypertension | 140 mm Hg or Higher |
| 90 mm Hg or Higher |
If you have stage 2 hypertension, Doctor usually suggest healthy life style, depending on health risk. They also prescribe blood pressure medications as per your health condition to lower your blood pressure.
Severe High Blood Pressure
| Severe High Blood Pressure | Higher Than 180 mm Hg |
| Higher Than 120 mm Hg |
If your blood pressure reading is higher than 180/120 mm Hg, wait for 1 minute and check your blood pressure again. If you get the same reading of 180/120 mm Hg or higher, then check whether you have any of these symptoms, such as:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Back pain
- Numbness
- Weakness
- Vision changes
- Difficulty speaking
Then you can treat it as hypertensive emergency and contact specialty doctor on immediate basis for prior treatment.
FAQs
What is the right instrument to measure high blood pressure reading?
Best instrument to measure high blood pressure reading is a validated digital blood pressure monitor with an upper arm cuff. It is the most accurate and reliable device for measuring blood pressure at home.
Which High Blood Pressure Doctor Specialty Should You See First?
In the condition of high blood pressure, first you should consult general physician or Internal medicine specialist.
What is the low blood pressure reading?
Low blood pressure, also called hypotension, is generally defined as a blood pressure reading of less than 90/60 mm Hg.
References
Pace Hospitals – About high blood pressure doctor
American Heart Association – About high blood pressure reading
Conclusion
If you have high blood pressure, the first high blood pressure doctor to consult is a General Physician or an Internal Medicine Specialist. They can diagnose low or high blood pressure, start the right treatment and if required, they suggest specialist doctors as per your health condition.
We can measure high blood pressure with 2 major numbers. These are systolic blood pressure (Top/Upper Number) and diastolic blood pressure (Bottom/Lower Number). The normal blood pressure reading is below 120/80 mm Hg. If it is crossed, we categorize blood pressure in 5 ways, as mentioned above.
If you have any categorized blood pressure, a healthy lifestyle management is usually recommended by your doctor along with medication. These are a balanced diet, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, avoid smoking, and limit your alcohol intake.