Ever wake up feeling a little “off,” only to check your blood pressure and see that it’s unexpectedly high? You’re not alone. Many people with high blood pressure (hypertension) notice a surprising spike first thing in the morning—even if things looked fine the night before. This can be confusing, even scary. But there’s a good…
As a Rheumatology nurse practitioner, I get this question more often than you’d think: does RA affect blood vessels? Short answer? Yes, and in more ways than people realize. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) isn’t just about achy joints—it’s a full-body inflammatory condition, and that inflammation can take a toll on your blood vessels, too. I’ve seen…
As an internal medicine physician specializing in hypertension management, I often get asked a question that might surprise you: can long naps raise blood pressure? It sounds counterintuitive, right? After all, naps are supposed to be restful breaks that help recharge us. But the truth is a bit more nuanced, especially when it comes to…
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my years as an internal medicine physician specializing in hypertension management, it’s that high blood pressure rarely shows up to the party alone. One particularly sneaky partner it often brings along? Sleep apnea. Yes, that thing people usually associate with snoring, fatigue, or CPAP machines. But the hypertension…
Can too much protein raise blood pressure? That’s a question I get surprisingly often in my clinic—usually from patients who are trying to do the right thing for their health but feel stuck in the middle of conflicting nutrition advice. As an Internal Medicine physician with a focus on hypertension management, I’ve seen firsthand how…
Ever wake up in the middle of the night with your heart racing and a pounding headache? You’re not alone. I’ve had patients come in swearing something was seriously wrong—only to discover they were dealing with a sneaky culprit: nocturnal hypertension. It doesn’t always show up in a routine clinic blood pressure reading, but it’s…
Let’s talk about something that I see all the time in my practice — early morning blood pressure spikes causes. You’d be surprised how often patients come in saying their blood pressure is fine most of the day, but then they get these bizarrely high readings first thing in the morning. As someone who’s spent…
Let’s talk about something I get asked in clinic a lot: the effects of mild alcohol consumption on blood pressure (BP). It’s one of those questions patients often bring up with a bit of a guilty smile—“Doc, is one glass of wine with dinner *really* that bad?” And honestly, I get it. We all want…
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is commonly recognized for its impact on the joints, causing pain, stiffness, and swelling. However, what many people might not know is that RA also significantly affects cardiovascular health, making individuals with this condition more vulnerable to cardiovascular risk factors. As a Rheumatology Nurse Practitioner, I’ve seen firsthand how RA can lead…