High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is when the force of blood pushing against your artery walls stays too high over time. Over months and years, that extra pressure makes the heart work harder and can quietly damage the arteries, raising the risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. Avita MD primary care providers diagnose and manage high blood pressure for adults in Los Altos, Mountain View, and Los Gatos, using regular measurement and a treatment plan built around your numbers and overall health.

What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is often called a silent condition because most people have no symptoms at all, even when readings are well above normal. This is why screening matters so much. When signs do appear, they may include:

• Headaches in some cases
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Chest pain or vision changes during very high readings
• Nosebleeds during a severe spike

A reading above 180/120 mm Hg with chest pain, trouble breathing, or vision changes is a medical emergency. Call 911.

Blood pressure categories

These are the standard categories used by the American Heart Association. Numbers are in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).

Category	Systolic	Diastolic
Normal	Less than 120	and less than 80
Elevated	120 to 129	and less than 80
Stage 1 hypertension	130 to 139	or 80 to 89
Stage 2 hypertension	140 or higher	or 90 or higher
Hypertensive crisis	Higher than 180	and/or higher than 120

A diagnosis is based on more than one reading, not a single number on a single day.

How does Avita MD diagnose and treat high blood pressure?

Your visit starts with an accurate in-office blood pressure measurement, a review of your history, and often basic labs to check kidney function, cholesterol, and blood sugar, since these conditions travel together. On-site phlebotomy and EKG at all three locations mean much of this can happen in one trip. If your readings are borderline, we may confirm with repeat measurements over time rather than rushing to a label.

Once hypertension is confirmed, we build a plan that fits your life. That usually pairs practical lifestyle steps, lower sodium, regular activity, weight management, and limiting alcohol, with medication when your numbers or risk call for it. Because the same provider follows your readings across visits, we can track trends over time and adjust the plan as your body responds. Same-day and next-day appointments help when a reading needs prompt attention, and we coordinate referrals to cardiology at Stanford or El Camino Health, including prior authorizations, when a specialist is the right next step.

When should you see a doctor about high blood pressure?

See a doctor if you have never had your blood pressure checked, if a home or pharmacy reading is 130/80 mm Hg or higher, or if you have risk factors such as a family history of hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, or obesity. If you already take blood pressure medication and your numbers are not at goal, that is also a reason to come in so the plan can be adjusted.

Seek emergency care right away for a reading above 180/120 mm Hg combined with chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, difficulty speaking, or sudden vision changes, since these can signal a stroke or heart event.