Lakewood Primary Care and Wellness diagnoses and treats high blood pressure in North Dallas at 8210 Walnut Hill Lane, on the Texas Health Presbyterian Dallas campus. Dr. Rajan Kohli, MD, a board-certified family physician, confirms the diagnosis accurately, looks for treatable causes, prescribes medication when it is needed, and sets up home monitoring — with care covered by Medicare and most insurance. Call or text 214-810-4331.
Medically reviewed by Rajan Kohli, MD, board-certified Family Medicine — Lakewood Primary Care and Wellness, North Dallas.
What your blood pressure numbers mean
Blood pressure is written as two numbers — systolic (the top) over diastolic (the bottom). One high reading is not a diagnosis; blood pressure varies through the day, so we confirm it with repeat and often home readings before labeling anything. The categories below follow the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines.
| Category | Systolic (top) | Diastolic (bottom) |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Below 120 | and below 80 |
| Elevated | 120–129 | and below 80 |
| Stage 1 hypertension | 130–139 | or 80–89 |
| Stage 2 hypertension | 140 or higher | or 90 or higher |
| Hypertensive crisis | Higher than 180 | and/or higher than 120 |
A reading in the crisis range with symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath or vision changes is an emergency — call 911. Otherwise, elevated or high readings are a reason to be evaluated, not to panic.
Do I need medication for high blood pressure?
Not always. For elevated or stage 1 blood pressure without other risk factors, we often start with lifestyle change and close monitoring. Medication is added when readings are higher, when there is diabetes, kidney or heart disease, or when lifestyle change alone does not reach your target. The decision is individualized and revisited as your numbers respond.
Finding the cause of high blood pressure
Most high blood pressure is primary (no single cause), but part of a good evaluation is checking for the treatable contributors — thyroid problems, kidney issues, sleep apnea, certain medications and lifestyle factors. Where testing points to a specific cause, we treat it, sometimes in coordination with our thyroid care and functional medicine services.
Medications and how we choose them
Several well-established medication classes lower blood pressure effectively, and the right choice depends on your other conditions. We select and adjust based on your readings, your other diagnoses such as diabetes, side effects and cost, and we monitor how you respond rather than setting and forgetting.
Home blood pressure monitoring, done right
Home readings often reflect your true blood pressure better than a single office check. We will show you how to measure correctly — the right cuff and arm position, seated and rested, at consistent times — and use those numbers to guide treatment between visits.
High blood pressure with diabetes
When high blood pressure and diabetes occur together, controlling both protects your kidneys, heart and eyes more than treating either alone. We manage them side by side through our chronic disease care.
Insurance and Medicare coverage
High blood pressure evaluation and treatment are covered medical care under Medicare and most commercial plans. Insurance participation can change — call or text 214-810-4331 to confirm your specific plan before your visit.
