If you live with high blood pressure, you do not need a complicated plan. You need a simple routine, quick access to your care team, and clear guidance on when to act. As a SALTA Direct Primary Care (DPC) member, you can check your blood pressure at home, message your provider with readings, adjust medications quickly, and get virtual or in person support without copays or surprise bills. This guide walks you through what to do day to day, what your numbers mean, and when to seek urgent or emergency care. It is educational, not a diagnosis. If you are worried about symptoms, contact your SALTA team right away.
Yes, you can do a virtual visit for high blood pressure
You can. Most hypertension visits do not require an in-office exam. With SALTA, you can schedule video or phone visits, share home readings through secure messaging, and get timely adjustments to your plan. Your provider may recommend an in-person visit if they need to examine you, run labs, or perform an EKG, but many follow ups stay virtual to save you time and keep care moving.
Members also benefit from proactive follow-up. If shared readings show an upward trend, your care team will reach out to adjust medications or provide lifestyle coaching as appropriate. If readings spike, you have 24/7 access to your team to discuss next steps and determine the best course of action together.
What happens at a hypertension appointment
A blood pressure visit with your team is calm, focused, and clear. Here is what to expect with SALTA.
- Check-in/rooming: We will take your blood pressure upon your arrival for your provider to review.
- Review of your home readings: We prefer to look at 1 to 2 weeks of measurements, not a single number, to see your trends.
- Symptoms and risk assessment: The presence of symptoms such as headache, chest pain, shortness of breath, vision changes, weakness, or confusion helps determine the level of urgency. However, elevated blood pressure is often asymptomatic and may present without any noticeable symptoms.
- Medication review: We review your current medications, including what you take, how and when you take them, any side effects, and refill needs. Based on this assessment, we may adjust dosages or add medications as appropriate. In select clinics, we can also dispense many medications directly at transparent cash prices.
- Lifestyle coaching: Practical guidance around sodium intake, weight management, sleep, alcohol use, physical activity, and stress reduction can help lower blood pressure. We focus on setting one or two achievable goals and follow up to support your progress.
- Monitoring plan: Together, we determine how often to check your readings, when to contact your provider, and when follow-up should occur via video or in person. When appropriate, we may also order labs, an EKG, or additional screening to assess related risks.
How and when to measure at home
For accurate readings, measure your blood pressure the same way each time.
- Use an upper-arm blood pressure cuff that is appropriately sized for your arm. We encourage you to bring the device to your appointment so we can verify accuracy and fit.
- Avoid caffeine, tobacco, and exercise for at least 30 minutes before taking your blood pressure.
- Empty your bladder; sit with feet flat, back supported, arm at heart level.
- Rest quietly for five minutes before your first reading.
- Take two readings, one minute apart: record both.
What time of day is true blood pressure? There is no single perfect time because your blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day. For consistency, measure in the morning before medications and in the evening before dinner for one to two weeks when you are starting or changing a treatment plan. Share those paired readings with your provider to reveal your true pattern.
When to seek care: routine, urgent, or emergency
Numbers matter, and symptoms matter even more. Use this guide as a starting point, then message us for personalized advice.
Routine follow-up:
Most readings between 120 to 139 systolic or 80 to 89 diastolic without symptoms are a signal to keep up lifestyle steps and monitoring, especially if you already have a plan with us.
Elevated and needs check in soon:
Consistent readings of 140 to 159 systolic or 90 to 99 diastolic without symptoms should prompt a secure message to your SALTA team. We can adjust medications and coaching as indicated.
Urgent same day SALTA visit:
Blood pressure readings of 160 systolic or higher, 100 diastolic or higher, or a sudden increase from your usual numbers should be evaluated the same day, either virtually or in person. Please call or message SALTA, and we will guide you on next steps.
Emergency care:
If your blood pressure is extremely high and accompanied by warning signs, call 911 immediately. Warning signs include chest pain, shortness of breath, severe headache, confusion, weakness on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, vision changes, or fainting.
Should you go to the ER if your blood pressure is 140 over 90?
In most cases, no—if you feel well, immediate action isn’t needed. Send a message to your SALTA team to review your readings and update your plan as needed. If you experience any symptoms, seek urgent evaluation right away.
What blood pressure is considered stroke level?
A blood pressure reading of 180/120 mmHg or higher, particularly if accompanied by neurologic symptoms, is a medical emergency—call 911 immediately and do not drive yourself. If your reading reaches this level without symptoms, sit quietly for five minutes and take it again. If it remains at or above 180/120, contact emergency services or your SALTA provider right away for guidance.
Medication management made simple
Hypertension therapy works best when it is simple to follow.
- Take your medications at the same time every day. Morning doses can help with consistency, while some medications are more effective at night. Your SALTA provider will guide you on the best schedule.
- If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember—unless it’s near the time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose unless your SALTA provider specifically advises you to do so.
- Be aware of potential side effects, such as a cough from ACE inhibitors, swelling from calcium channel blockers, or dizziness after dose adjustments. Contact us if you notice anything unusual.
- Use your medications alongside lifestyle changes. For most people, both are needed to reach blood pressure goals.
SALTA can provide medications on-site at clear, upfront prices in certain clinics, helping you save time and reduce costs. Refills and dosage adjustments are managed quickly through secure messaging or a short virtual visit.
Lifestyle coaching that moves the needle
Small, consistent steps matter.
- Sodium awareness: If you have high blood pressure, aim for 1,500–2,000 mg of sodium (salt) per day. Limit processed foods such as deli meats, cheeses, and canned or packaged items, and choose fresh, whole foods instead.
- Weight and activity: Even 10 to 20 minutes of brisk walking or cycling most days of the week helps. Strength training 2-3 times weekly supports long term control.
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- Alcohol and tobacco: Limit alcohol intake and avoid tobacco, as both can raise your blood pressure. Reach out to your SALTA provider for support if you need help reducing or quitting.
- Sleep and stress: Aim for 7–8 hours of sleep each night. Manage stress with daily breaks. Try slow breathing exercises or a 10-minute walk to help reduce your blood pressure.
Your SALTA provider will help you focus on one change at a time, monitor your progress, and make adjustments as needed. You don’t need to tackle everything at once!
Sharing readings with SALTA for timely adjustments
Members can share their blood pressure readings through our secure portal. When starting or adjusting treatment, submit paired morning and evening readings for one to two weeks, then weekly summaries once your numbers are stable. Be sure to include your pulse and any symptoms you may notice. We will provide clear guidance, whether that’s adjusting medications or scheduling a brief virtual visit. With DPC, you don’t have to wait months for a check-in—you receive continuous, real-time support.
Your simple at home plan
- Measure your blood pressure the right way, morning and evening, and log your readings.
- Share your readings with your SALTA team through secure messaging.
- Follow your prescribed medication schedule and notify us right away about any side effects.
- Practice one lifestyle change at a time, then build.
- Know your action thresholds and when to call. (wording?)
If you are near Clarkston or Auburn Hills and want a tech enabled care team that responds fast, explore direct primary care. Prefer to see a clinician in Shelby Township with strong continuity and easy virtual check ins? Learn about Shelby Township primary care physicians. If you are closer to Clarkston and want a virtual experience with same day access, consider direct primary care in Clarkston.
Bottom line
You can manage high blood pressure at home with the right tools, a clear routine, and a responsive care team. SALTA Direct Primary Care gives you unlimited secure messaging, phone and video access, same day visits when needed, longer appointments, and transparent pricing with no copays or surprise bills for primary care services. That combination lowers stress while it lowers your numbers. If you are ready for a simpler way to control hypertension, reach out to enroll or message your current SALTA provider today.
