High Blood Pressure Care

Quick Intro

VEI Clinic Apgujeong is an English-friendly internal-medicine clinic in Gangnam providing practical, evidence-based care for high blood pressure (hypertension)—from home-BP setup and targeted labs to medication plans and follow-up.

What We Do

Assess & Confirm

• Accurate diagnosis: office readings with proper technique; confirm with home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) or ambulatory monitoring when needed (white-coat vs. masked hypertension)
• Baseline risks: kidney/liver function, electrolytes, urine albumin/creatinine, lipids (± ApoB), A1c, thyroid screen when indicated
• Secondary-cause screen (when appropriate): kidney disease, primary aldosteronism, thyroid/parathyroid issues, sleep apnea, medication contributors (NSAIDs, decongestants, stimulants, some herbal products)

Treat & Monitor

• Lifestyle first-line: salt awareness in Korean cuisine, DASH-style pattern, movement & sleep plan, alcohol limits
• Medications (when indicated): ACE inhibitor/ARB, thiazide-like diuretic (e.g., chlorthalidone/indapamide), calcium channel blocker; add-ons for resistant cases (e.g., spironolactone) or beta-blockers for specific heart indications
• Lab safety checks: creatinine & potassium after ACE/ARB/diuretic changes
• Follow-up cadence: typically 4–6 weeks after a change until stable, then 3–6 months

Coordinate Care

• Sleep study referral when apnea is suspected
• Cardiology/nephrology collaboration for complex cases
• Vaccinations: flu/COVID; pneumococcal by age/risk

Home BP Protocol

• Use a validated upper-arm automatic cuff that fits your arm.
• No caffeine/exercise/smoking for 30 min beforehand; empty bladder.
• Sit 5 minutes quietly: back supported, feet flat, arm supported at heart level.
• Take two readings, 1 minute apart, morning and evening for 7 days.
• Discard day 1, average the rest; bring the log (or device) to your visit.

When We Start or Adjust Medication

• Sustained home averages ≥135/85 (or clinic ≥140/90), or lower thresholds if you have diabetes, kidney disease, or high cardiovascular risk.
• Marked elevations or end-organ findings (e.g., kidney injury, LVH) prompt earlier treatment.
• We avoid ACE inhibitors/ARBs in pregnancy and tailor plans to your history.

Lifestyle That Actually Helps

• Sodium: aim for <2 g sodium/day (~5 g salt). In Korea, watch soups/stews (guk, jjigae), noodles/ramen, kimchi & pickles, gochujang/doenjang/soy sauce. Ask for less broth/sauce and taste before adding salt.
• DASH-style eating: more vegetables, fruit, legumes, fish, minimally processed grains; adequate potassium (if kidneys are healthy and you’re not on potassium-sparing meds).
• Activity: build to 150+ min/week of moderate cardio (add zone-2 sessions) + 2+ days/week of strength training; increase daily steps.
• Alcohol: limit—roughly ≤1 drink/day (most people benefit from less).
• Weight & sleep: even 5–10% weight loss or treating sleep apnea can meaningfully lower BP.
• Medicine check: minimize routine NSAIDs and decongestants; review supplements (e.g., licorice raises BP).

Safety: When to Seek Urgent or Emergency Care

• Recheck after 5 minutes of rest if a reading seems extreme.
• ≥180/120 with symptoms (chest pain, shortness of breath, severe headache/vision change, confusion, stroke signs) → ER immediately.
• ≥180/120 without symptoms → same-day medical evaluation.
• Pregnancy/postpartum: BP ≥160/110, headache/visual changes, or upper-right abdominal pain → urgent evaluation.

Visit Flow

• Baseline consult (30–45 min) → history, exam, medication/supplement review, device coaching
• Same-day labs → kidney/electrolytes, urine albumin/creatinine, lipids (± ApoB), A1c as needed
• Plan (written in English) → home-BP targets, lifestyle steps, medication changes, safety monitoring
• Follow-up at 4–6 weeks → review log, labs, adjust; then 3–6 months once stable

What to Bring

• Medication & supplement list (exact doses)
• Home BP device or app/monitor logs
• Recent labs or reports (if any), and your typical weekly diet/activity snapshot

Pricing & Transparency

You’ll get a clear quote before testing or treatment. Pricing varies by consult length, labs, and any procedures/referrals. Itemized English receipts are available for personal or corporate reimbursement.