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10/Jul/2024
Direct Primary Care Physician

Blood Pressure Basics: Navigating Hypertension Treatment

Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is a prevalent condition that affects millions of people worldwide. If left untreated, it can lead to severe health complications, including heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Understanding the basics of blood pressure and how to navigate hypertension treatment is crucial for maintaining good health. At Agape Family Medicine, we provide comprehensive care, including physical exams in Waterbury, CT, to help you manage and treat hypertension effectively.

What is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is the force exerted by the blood against the walls of your arteries. It is measured in two numbers:

  • Systolic Pressure: The pressure when your heart beats.
  • Diastolic Pressure: The pressure when your heart rests between beats.

A normal blood pressure reading is typically around 120/80 mmHg. Hypertension is diagnosed when blood pressure readings consistently exceed 140/90 mmHg.

Understanding Hypertension

Hypertension can be classified into two types:

  • Primary (Essential) Hypertension: The most common type, with no identifiable cause, but linked to genetics, poor diet, lack of exercise, and obesity.
  • Secondary Hypertension: Caused by underlying conditions such as kidney disease, hormonal disorders, or certain medications.

Risk Factors for Hypertension

Several factors can increase your risk of developing hypertension, including:

  • Age: The risk increases as you get older.
  • Family History: A family history of hypertension can raise your risk.
  • Lifestyle Choices: Poor diet, lack of physical activity, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking can contribute to hypertension.
  • Chronic Conditions: Conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea can increase the risk.

Symptoms of Hypertension

Hypertension is often called the “silent killer” because it typically has no symptoms until significant damage has occurred. However, some people may experience:

  • Headaches
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nosebleeds
  • Dizziness
  • Chest pain

Diagnosing Hypertension

Regular physical exams are crucial for diagnosing hypertension early. At Agape Family Medicine, our comprehensive physical exams in Waterbury, CT, include blood pressure measurements and assessments to identify potential risk factors for hypertension.

Treatment Options for Hypertension

  1. Lifestyle Changes
  • Diet: Adopt a heart-healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is highly recommended.
  • Exercise: Regular physical activity helps lower blood pressure and improve heart health. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.
  • Weight Management: Losing excess weight can significantly reduce blood pressure levels.
  • Limit Alcohol and Quit Smoking: Reducing alcohol intake and quitting smoking can lower your risk of hypertension.
  1. Medications

Several types of medications can help manage hypertension, including:

  • Diuretics: Help your kidneys remove excess sodium and water.
  • ACE Inhibitors: Relax blood vessels by blocking the formation of a natural chemical that narrows blood vessels.
  • Beta-Blockers: Reduce your heart rate and the force of your heart, lowering blood pressure.
  • Calcium Channel Blockers: Prevent calcium from entering the heart and blood vessel cells, reducing blood pressure.
  1. Monitoring and Follow-Up

Regular monitoring and follow-up appointments are crucial for managing hypertension effectively. At Agape Family Medicine, we offer ongoing support and monitoring to help you stay on track with your treatment plan.

Importance of Regular Physical Exams

Regular physical exams are essential for early detection and management of hypertension. During a physical exam at Agape Family Medicine in Waterbury, CT, our healthcare professionals will:

  • Measure your blood pressure
  • Assess your overall health
  • Identify any risk factors for hypertension
  • Provide personalized advice on lifestyle changes
  • Recommend appropriate treatments if necessary

Conclusion

Managing hypertension is a lifelong commitment that involves lifestyle changes, medication, and regular monitoring. At Agape Family Medicine, we are dedicated to helping you navigate hypertension treatment and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Schedule your physical exam in Waterbury, CT, today to take the first step towards better blood pressure management and overall health.

Contact Us For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit our website or call Agape Family Medicine. Our team is here to support you on your journey to better health.

 

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01/Nov/2022
Direct Primary Care Physician

Who Should Get the Flu Vaccine?

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated before the start of each flu season, with very few exceptions. Some people are more likely to get health problems from the flu, such as the elderly, pregnant women, infants, and people with medical conditions like asthma or diabetes. Getting a flu vaccine is especially important for them and for those who live with them.

Babies younger than 6 months can’t get the vaccine. But they will be protected if their parents, other caregivers, and older kids in the household get it. This is important because infants who get the flu are more likely to have serious problems than older kids.

Some things might prevent a person from getting the flu vaccine. Talk to your doctor to see if the vaccine is still recommended if your child:

  • has ever had a serious allergic reaction to a flu vaccine
  • has had

Have questions? Call Dr. Felly Mazhandu FNP-BC wants to be your primary care physician and if you are dealing with chronic disease, help you manage it. Contact us to schedule an appointment by clicking this link or calling 203-527-3576

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10/Oct/2020
Direct Primary Care Physician

A Few Things To Know About Swimmers Ear

Summer In Connecticut means plenty of swimming, whether it’s in pools or the ocean. Swimming is a great way to cool off on a hot day and to get some exercise, all while being outside and enjoying the best weather of the year. For many Nee Englanders, however, a day in the water this summer could potentially lead to an earache.

Swimmer’s ear is a common summer problem for children and is part of growing up like sunburns and mosquito bites. Also known as otitis externa, swimmer’s ear can hurt — but it doesn’t have to change your summer plans!

Here’s what you need to know before you and your children hit the water.

1. What is swimmer’s ear?

Swimmer’s ear is an outer ear infection: it affects the outer ear canal, which runs from the outside of your ear to your eardrum. While infections can occur for any number of reasons, swimmer’s ear is caused by an excess amount of moisture remaining in the ear canal.

Because the ear canal is dark, any build up of moisture is going to promote the growth of bacteria.

Once bacteria starts to grow, the ear canal becomes inflamed, leading to pain and discomfort. While swimmer’s ear is most common in children, adults can get it as well.

2. How do you get swimmer’s ear?

The easy answer is “by swimming!” Of course it’s not quite that simple, you can also get swimmer’s ear without swimming. Too much moisture in the ear is the main cause of swimmer’s ear, but there are other factors as well. Some children may be predisposed to swimmer’s ear due to the way their ear canals are shaped, making it more difficult for water to drain out. The type of water matters as well: swimming in ponds, lakes, or poorly treated pools may increase exposure to bacteria, raising the risk of swimmer’s ear.

Finally, the wax in your ears serves as a way to stop moisture from building up inside. People who keep their ears a little too clean, may actually be increasing their chances of contracting swimmer’s ear.

3. How do you prevent swimmer’s ear?

We can’t just stop kids from swimming, especially during summertime in CT! Instead, preventing swimmer’s ear starts with taking steps to keep moisture from building up inside the ear canals.

  • Have your children thoroughly dry their ears after getting out of the water.
  • Have them try to shake the water out or lean each side of the head to remove any excess water.
  • Avoid swimming in untreated water or at beaches where the bacteria count is high.

If you find that your child is particularly susceptible to swimmer’s ear, waterproof ear plugs are an option. While it may take some time for your child to get used to them, they do a good job keeping ear canals dry.

4. How do you treat swimmer’s ear?

If you suspect swimmer’s ear (whether in your child or yourself), it’s a good idea to contact your primary care provider. Your provider will be able to confirm that it’s swimmer’s ear and not something more serious. Your provider will know the best approach to treat the issue.

Normally, swimmer’s ear is treated with special ear drops that help fight off the infection. Ibuprofen or another over-the-counter pain reliever can to relive the the ear pain as well. With the proper medication, swimmer’s ear should be resolved within a week or so.

One thing that you should never do with a suspected case of swimmer’s ear is ignore it. While swimmer’s ear is usually pretty easy , ignoring it gives the infection a chance to spread and potentially become more serious.

Have questions? Call Dr. Felly Mazhandu FNP-BC wants to be your primary care physician and if you are dealing with chronic disease, help you manage it. Contact us to schedule an appointment by clicking this link or calling 203-527-3576

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At Agape Family Medical Center, your primary care physician is your main doctor over the course of many years, and primary care physicians treat the whole person, not just a disease or an organ system. We are your personal physician, health advocate and wellness advisor throughout all the stages of your life.

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Address: 1078 W. Main St. Suite 3 (2nd Floor) Waterbury, CT 06708

Phone: 203-527-3576

Phone 2nd: 475 233 2960

Email: [email protected]

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Address: 2550 Main Street. Ste 205 Hartford, CT 06120

Phone: 860-519 0650

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