More than one-third of all Americans over the age of 20 are living with hypertension, and the problem is getting worse. Medical experts predict that the number of cases will continue to increase, putting more people at risk for heart attacks and strokes. Diagnosing and controlling hypertension is a priority for the doctors at Mt Auburn Nephrology. The nephrology practice, located in Cincinnati, OH, specializes in treating a variety of medical ailments, including hypertension, kidney stones, chronic kidney disease, and acute renal failure. In this article, they want to focus on the causes, symptoms, and treatments of hypertension.

If you are diagnosed with hypertension, it means that you have abnormally high blood pressure. There are a number of lifestyle factors that can contribute to the condition, including physical inactivity, a poor diet, and excessive drinking or smoking. Left untreated, long-term hypertension can cause arteriosclerosis, in which blood vessels harden and narrow, resulting in impaired blood circulation. Lack of blood can weaken major organs and lead to heart or kidney failure, strokes, and even vision problems.

The symptoms of hypertension can include headaches, shortness of breath, dizziness, and nosebleeds. In some patients, however, these symptoms don’t occur until hypertension has become severe or even life threatening. That’s why it’s important to see the doctors at Mt Auburn Nephrology for regular checkups, especially if you have a family history of high blood pressure.

There are many different treatment options for hypertension. Patients can reduce high blood pressure by reducing their salt intake, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, exercising regularly, and cutting back on alcohol. The condition may also be treated with prescription drugs, including diuretics to reduce salt and water in the body, beta-blockers, which open blood vessels and reduce the workload on the heart, and calcium channel blockers to relax blood vessels. Those with chronic kidney disease may benefit from taking angiotensin-converting enzymes or ACE inhibitors, which also help to open blood vessels.

Your health is important to the professionals at Mt Auburn Nephrology, and they offer a wide range of services to ensure you get the care you need. Patients can be treated for hypertension, kidney stones, acute renal failure, and chronic kidney disease. Doctors can also diagnose kidney disease and perform kidney and renal function tests.

Don’t wait any longer. Call Mt Auburn Nephrology at (513) 841-0222 or visit the office's website for a complete list of services.