Blood Pressure Management Specialist

James J. Biemer, MD

Internists located in Portland, OR

Whether you’ve been told you have hypertension or you have a family history of high blood pressure, effectively managing your blood pressure can reduce your risks of serious health complications. Dr. Biemer, Julia, and their team offer people in Portland, Oregon blood pressure management through their concierge internal medicine practice. With this small, personalized practice, The Biemer Clinic helps you get your blood pressure to a normal range in the healthiest and safest way possible.

503-384-0316

Blood Pressure Management Q & A

Who needs blood pressure management?

If your blood pressure runs high, you may benefit from blood pressure management. According to new guidelines set by the American Heart Association, your blood pressure is considered high if it reaches 130/80.

Blood pressure management is essential to a long life of health and wellness. Hypertension, the clinical term for high blood pressure, is one of the few indicators of heart disease. This otherwise silent disease leads to major complications such as strokes, heart attacks, and kidney disease. It’s also the No. 1 killer of both men and women in the United States.

What happens in blood pressure management?

In many cases, you can manage your blood pressure and get it to safe levels without medications. The Biemer Clinic with their knowledgeable, compassionate team often starts blood pressure management by recommending healthy lifestyle modifications like:

Eating a low-sodium diet rich with real, whole foods
Quitting smoking cigarettes
Limiting alcohol consumption to two drinks a day for men and one for women
Exercising at least 30 minutes most days of the week
Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight

If you make these lifestyle changes and your blood pressure still doesn’t drop below 130/80, or if you’re a high-risk patient, Dr. Biemer and Julia may start you on blood pressure medication. High-risk patients include those 65 and older, people with high cholesterol and those who have chronic conditions like diabetes.

Is there a connection between obesity and blood pressure?

If you’re obese, losing weight is the most effective way to lower your blood pressure to a healthy range. Not only does your blood pressure increase as the scale goes up, but carrying extra pounds puts you at risk for sleep apnea, which also contributes to high blood pressure.

By combining weight loss with a healthy, low-sodium diet, you can reach a healthy weight and lower your blood pressure. On average, for every 2.2 pounds you lose, you can expect your blood pressure to drop about 1 point.

With the realities of high blood pressure and the risks it increases, there’s no reason not to try blood pressure management. It might just save your life.