General Internal Medicine Specialist

What is hypertension?

Hypertension — also known as high blood pressure — is an all-too-common condition for Americans, in which the long-term force of blood against artery walls causes health problems and heart conditions.

When your heart has to pump more blood because it encounters a significant amount of resistance in your arteries for prolonged periods, you end up with hypertension. In most cases, your arteries narrow, forcing your heart to work harder to circulate blood throughout your body.

Hypertension usually develops over the course of several years, and you may not experience any symptoms until it's too late. The only means to monitor your blood pressure and ensure it's within a safe range is through routine exams and blood pressure checks.

Once Dr. Zhang determines that you have high blood pressure, he works with you to control it so that it doesn't become life-threatening.

What are the symptoms of hypertension?

Many adults don’t experience any symptoms related to high blood pressure until it reaches dangerously high levels — even then, you may not notice.

Some men and women do experience headaches, nosebleeds, or shortness of breath, but these rarely occur until your blood pressure reaches a severe level.

The best way to prevent further complications — or a life-threatening scenario — is to have Dr. Zhang check your blood pressure on a regular basis for signs that there’s a problem.

What are the risk factors for hypertension?

High blood pressure has many different risk factors, many of which can be controlled through a combination of diet, exercise, and medication. Risk factors include:

• Being aged over 45 for men and 65 for women
• Family history/heredity
• Higher incidence in black people than white
• Obesity
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• High-sodium diet
• Low-potassium diet
• Lack of vitamin D
• High-stress levels over prolonged periods
• Consuming too much alcohol on a regular basis
• Some chronic conditions
• Pregnancy (although usually temporary)

What are my treatment options for hypertension?

Ideally, you want your blood pressure to remain below 120/80, which is considered normal. Dr. Zhang works with you to develop an effective treatment plan to help lower your blood pressure and keep it within safe levels.

Treatment may include making changes to your diet, becoming more active, quitting smoking, and medications that help control hypertension.

What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is not very common and typically occurs in children and young adults. Only about 5% of people with diabetes have type 1.

It’s classified by the body’s inability to produce insulin — a hormone that is essential in moving glucose from the bloodstream into the cells where it’s needed. Those with type 1 diabetes usually need insulin therapy and other treatments so their bodies can effectively convert sugars and starches into glucose.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease, in which your body uses insulin ineffectively.

With type 2 diabetes, your body causes the glucose (blood sugar) levels to rise higher than normal. At first, your pancreas makes extra insulin to compensate for this inefficiency, but over time, your body is unable to keep up with producing enough insulin to process glucose and keep it at a normal level.

What are the risk factors for type 2 diabetes?

Whether or not you develop type 2 diabetes depends on a combination of risk factors, heredity, and your lifestyle. Many of the risk factors are manageable through diet and exercise, and include:

• Obesity or being overweight
• Being over 45
• Being African American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander
• Having hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Having low HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol)
• A sedentary lifestyle
• History of heart disease or stroke
• Depression
• Polycystic ovary syndrome

How can I prevent type 2 diabetes?

Since many of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes can be managed through diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes, it's possible to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. You can:

• Lose weight
• Improve your diet (eat less sugar, less fat, and fewer calories)
• Get 30 minutes of physical activity each day
• Drink water instead of sugary beverages

Making small adjustments to your diet and activity each day can make a big difference in your long-term overall health. Changes in nutrition and lifestyle can help prevent or delay the onset of diabetes, as well as help you become less dependent on prescription medications.

What is gastritis?

Gastritis is an inflammation or erosion of your stomach lining as a result of irritation from excessive alcohol use, chronic vomiting, stress, or certain medications. It can occur suddenly or gradually, and the unpleasant symptoms include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain and bloating
• Indigestion
• Burning feeling in your stomach between meals
• Appetite loss
• Black stools

How is gastritis diagnosed?

Dr. Zhang uses a procedure to diagnose gastritis called an upper endoscopy, in which he inserts a thin tube containing a camera through your mouth into your stomach.

Dr. Zhang may also request blood tests and check your stool for blood as a potential sign of gastritis. He discusses your medical history, performs a physical exam, and talks to you about your symptoms.

How is gastritis treated?

Once Dr. Zhang determines the cause of your gastritis, he recommends remedies that may include any of the following:

• Medications to reduce stomach acid
• Changes to your diet to avoid hot, spicy foods, dairy, or gluten
• Antibiotics to cure infection
• B12 vitamins

When you treat the underlying cause of gastritis, the unpleasant symptoms usually subside as well.

If you suspect you have hypertension, diabetes, or gastritis, don’t wait to take action. Call or schedule an appointment online today.