

Primary & Urgent Care - Dallas, Texas

Isaac Z. Pugach, M.D., BCIM

Complete Med Care
8989 Forest Lane
Suite 146
Dallas, Texas 75243

(972) 792-7777
Complete Med Care - Dallas Urgent Care, near Richardson, TX
Copyright 2006-2019 by Complete Med Care             All rights reserved         email:  info @

Hypertension FAQ

Answered by Isaac Pugach, M.D., a Dallas hypertension specialist, who is board certified in Internal Medicine and is the medical director of Complete Med Care

What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
Majority of patients do not feel any symptoms of high blood pressure until it is too late.  When hypertension is severe, a few of the symptoms that some patients may feel are as following: headache or pressure (especially at the top/back of the head), waking up two or more times at night to urinate, chest pain or pressure (especially with physical exertion or emotional stress), blurry vision, facial flushing, but very commonly, there are no symptoms until patient has a stroke.

How common is hypertension?

High blood pressure or hypertension is a serious condition affecting 30% of adults in United States.  In the Dallas metroplex, the prevalence has been estimated to be around 25%.  In African-Americans, the hypertension is even more common - in Texas, more than 40% are affected.

What is normal blood pressure?
Blood pressure is measured with two numbers: systolic (top) and diastolic (bottom) number.  120/80 or less is considered normal. 121-139/81-89 is considered pre-hypertension, and 140/90 and higher is called hypertension.  Either systolic(top) or diastolic (bottom) pressure elevation is called hypertension and is hazardous, even if the other number is in the normal range.

How does hypertension cause damage?
Just like an over-pressured water system will eventually result in a burst pipe, hypertension will cause your blood vessels to rupture. High blood pressure causes blood vessel damage over many years, causing blood vessels to become hard and brittle.  The brittle blood vessels are much more likely to burst, causing a stroke or internal bleeding.  When heart pumps hard against high blood pressure to get the blood moving, it overworks and enlarges, and that increases the risk of having a heart attack.  Additionally, uncontrolled hypertension causes damage to the kidneys, which can result in such damage, that would require kidney dialysis.

Can medications prevent or reverse damage from hypertension?
Yes, absolutely! Medications that control blood pressure, over time, can reverse heart enlargement, which will decrease the risk of heart attack.  Additionally, decreasing blood pressure to normal levels will significantly decrease the risk of having a stroke and kidney failure.  Once you have a stroke or a heart attack, that damage mostly irreversible, so it is critical to get on medications before you have irreversible damage.

What can I do if I do not want to take medications?
If you are concerned about side effects and becoming dependent on the medication, it is quite understandable - and there are methods other than meds to lower the blood pressure.  Weight loss of as little as 15 lbs can significantly lower blood pressure.  Additionally, getting adequate sleep and avoiding excessive salt will decrease blood pressure. Walking for 40 minutes a day 5-6 days a week can drop blood pressure by 20 points, even without losing weight.  Changing tight-fitting clothes and body-shapers to looser clothes can drop blood pressure by 10 points.  Additionally, there is FDA-approved method that does not involve diet or exercise, for certain patients with hypertension.

However, if these methods do not help, or if blood pressure is very high to begin with, it is important to start medications.  In fact, if hypertension is severe, intense physical activity can actually cause a stroke, because the blood pressure rises even higher with hard exercise.  There is no dependency formed by taking blood pressure medications, and they can be discontinued, if the underlying condition that cause high blood pressure is resolved - such as lack of aerobic exercise or being overweight. 
       As a board certified Internal Medicine specialist, Dr. Pugach specializes in adult weight-related diseases, such as hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes.

or prescribe them in a fashion that will not cause intolerable side effects, or in some cases, or even use a diet supplement.

Hypertension Specialist
Dallas, Texas

- Licensed to practice medicine since 2003
- Board Certified in Internal Medicine since 2006
- Received Patients' Choice award yearly from 2010 to 2014
- Received Compassionate Doctor Recognition in 2011, 2012, and 2013
- Personally treated over a thousand patients with hypertension
- Currently treating several hundred patients with high blood pressure
- Completed Internal Medicine Board hypertension practice assessment
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Call our office at 972-792-7777 to schedule an appointment or if you any questions.
Isaac Z. Pugach, M.D.