High blood pressure is the most common chronic condition we treat at our Plano office, and also the most frequently underestimated. Patients come in for something else, we check their pressure, and the reading is high. Many have known for years and kept meaning to follow up. At Better Health Primary Care at 6201 Dallas Pkwy, we make that follow-up straightforward: a clear diagnosis, a plan built around your actual life, and regular check-ins so the plan keeps working.
How we manage hypertension in Plano
Dr. Samra Khan, board-certified in internal medicine with over 20 years of clinical experience, and Dr. Ayesha Quayyum, board-certified in family medicine and named a D Magazine Best Doctor, treat hypertension as a primary focus, not an afterthought. Both physicians understand that what works in a clinical study does not always translate to a patient’s actual schedule, diet preferences, or stress load. Plans have to be realistic to work.
What treatment covers:
- Diagnostic accuracy. We do not diagnose based on one reading. We track patterns, review your history, and check for contributing factors like thyroid issues, kidney function, or medications that can raise blood pressure.
- Lifestyle-first approach for the right patients. Sodium reduction, the DASH diet, consistent exercise, weight management, alcohol moderation, and sleep quality all influence blood pressure. For patients with mild elevation and otherwise good health, we start here and monitor closely.
- Medication when needed. When lifestyle changes are not sufficient, or when starting readings are high enough that waiting poses risk, we prescribe the appropriate medication, explain how it works, and follow up to ensure it is effective and well-tolerated.
- Ongoing monitoring. Blood pressure changes with seasons, stress, age, weight, and other medications. We schedule regular visits to review your numbers and adjust as needed.
What is hypertension?
Blood pressure is measured in mm Hg as two numbers: the systolic reading (pressure during a heartbeat) over the diastolic reading (pressure at rest). Normal is below 120/80. Stage 1 hypertension begins at 130/80; Stage 2 at 140/90. The condition affects roughly 120 million adults in the US, and Plano-area patients are not exempt, especially with the area’s office-heavy work culture and high-stress commuting environment.
Why does hypertension cause damage even without symptoms?
Sustained high pressure damages the inner walls of blood vessels, forces the heart to work harder than it should, and progressively reduces kidney function, all without noticeable signs. Heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease are the downstream consequences. Most patients with hypertension feel completely normal until something acute changes that.
Do I need to stay on blood pressure medication indefinitely?
It varies. Some patients manage to reduce or stop medication after significant, sustained lifestyle changes and weight loss. Others need it long-term, which is clinically appropriate and safe. We reassess at every visit. The goal is always the right level of treatment for your current situation, not a permanent prescription written once and never reconsidered.
Schedule a blood pressure evaluation in Plano
Located at 6201 Dallas Pkwy, Suite 210, Plano, TX 75024. Call (972) 640-1787 or book online.
Other areas of expertise
We offer a full range of primary care services for patients in the Dallas-Fort Worth area: