Heart & Circulation
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) is when the pressure of your blood inside your arteries stays higher than it should. That forces your heart to work harder, and over time it can quietly raise your risk for serious cardiovascular problems.
Common Symptoms
- Severe headache
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Vision changes
- Confusion or trouble thinking clearly
- Heart palpitations
- Swelling (especially in the legs or feet)
- Peeing less than usual
Get urgent help right away if your blood pressure is 180/120 or higher and you have symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, vision changes, weakness, or trouble speaking. If you are pregnant, seek urgent help for 160/110 or higher with symptoms.
Likely Root Causes and Contributors
High blood pressure rarely comes from just one factor. Common contributors include:
- Family history and aging
- Ongoing stress and poor sleep
- High-sodium diet and low potassium intake
- Extra weight or weight gain over time
- Not enough physical activity
- Alcohol use
- Tobacco or nicotine use
Sometimes there is an underlying cause (secondary hypertension), such as:
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Kidney disease or blood flow issues to the kidneys
- Thyroid imbalance
- Certain medications (for example, some cold medicines, pain relievers, birth control, or stimulant medications)
- Substance use (including cocaine or amphetamines)
- “White coat” effect (higher readings in a medical setting)
Patient Pain Points We Often Hear
“My numbers are high, but I feel fine, so I don’t know how worried I should be.”
“I get different readings at home versus the doctor’s office, and it’s confusing.”
“I want to lower my blood pressure, but I don’t want to feel worse from side effects.”
Our Approach to Healing
How We Map, Treat, and Sustain Real Recovery from High Blood Pressure with the LAM Method™
For many people, high blood pressure reflects a body that has been under stress for too long, with circulation and nervous system signaling getting pushed out of balance. At Lam Clinic, our approach to healing uses the three phases of LAM Method™: Learn the Why, Address the Root, Maximize Longevity. Here’s how we use the LAM Method™ to address High Blood Pressure.
Phase 1 of LAM Method™
Learn the Why of High Blood Pressure
We start by looking at your full pattern. We review when your blood pressure started changing, how it trends at home versus in the office, and what else is going on in your body that can push numbers up.
In the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response, high blood pressure most often involves the Cardionomic Circuit, which affects heart rhythm, vessel tone, and stress signaling.
We also look at visceral fat, the fat around your organs. This matters because visceral fat can increase metabolic and inflammatory strain that keeps blood pressure elevated.
Here are some common tests we use:
Core blood pressure evaluation
- Comprehensive laboratory testing (key cardiovascular, metabolic, kidney, thyroid, and inflammation markers).
- Body Composition Analysis
- Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Analysis
- Photoplethysmography Analysis
When circulation risk needs a closer look
- Ankle Brachial Index
- Carotid Ultrasound
- Aorta Ultrasound
- Echocardiogram
- EKG
Serum Labs may include:
- CMP (renal/hepatic)
- CBC
- Lipid panel
- HbA1c, fasting glucose, insulin (metabolic syndrome)
- TSH, Free T4
- hs-CRP (vascular inflammation)
For more information about specific tests and labs used in high blood pressure evaluation, you can explore our full service page.
Phase 2 of LAM Method™
Address the Root of High Blood Pressure
Lifestyle Foundations
This is where the biggest and most sustainable shifts often happen.
- Targeted Visceral Fat Reduction: Visceral fat is closely tied to high blood pressure. As it decreases, blood pressure often improves and can normalize. We use a curated, personalized weight loss method based on what we learned in Phase 1, including your metabolism, stress tolerance, sleep, and body composition, so progress is steady and not stressful.
- Nervous System Stabilization: We focus on better sleep, steadier daily rhythm, and lowering chronic stress load so vessel tone can relax.
- Circulation and Vascular Health: We support healthier vessel function with practical nutrition changes, the right level of movement, and reducing excess sodium and ultra-processed foods when they are contributing.
Targeted Supplement Support
We introduce supplements slowly and only when they match your specific pattern. They are not a replacement for prescribed medication.
For high blood pressure, we may consider:
- Magnesium to support vessel relaxation and nervous system balance
- Omega-3 fatty acids to support arterial flexibility and inflammation balance
- Nitric oxide support to promote healthy vessel dilation
IV Therapies
For patients who require additional support, we may incorporate:
- IV Nutrient Therapy
- IV Ozone Autohemotherapy
These therapies may help support vascular function, improve circulation and oxygen delivery, and replenish key nutrients involved in blood vessel relaxation and cardiovascular regulation, particularly when high blood pressure is linked to chronic stress, inflammation, or nutrient depletion.
This information is educational, not a prescription. Your actual plan is always individualized, adjusted slowly, and refined based on how your body responds.
Phase 3 of LAM Method™
Maximize Longevity
Once your blood pressure feels more stable, we simplify. You get clear routines, early warning signs to watch for, and a sustainable plan that helps protect your progress through stress, travel, illness, or busy seasons.
NEM Response Circuits
How Your Body Regulate Stress
Your body handles stress through six interconnected circuits. When even one is out of balance, symptoms can show up in your heart, hormones, energy, and more.
Top Articles
Expert Insights on High Blood Pressure
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Read moreBlood Pressure Symptoms: Underlying Causes, Early Detection, and Remedies
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Read moreSalt and High Blood Pressure: The Unmitigated Truth
Read moreThe Top 23 Botanicals for Healthy Blood Pressure
Read moreReady to Start Feeling Better? Let’s figure this out—together.
Take the QuizFrequently Asked Questions
Can Lam Clinic help with high blood pressure?
Yes. We first learn the “why,” such as vessel stiffness, fluid and salt balance, kidney strain, hormones, sleep issues, inflammation, or medication effects. Then we create a personalized plan to support circulation and long-term heart health.
What is a dangerously high blood pressure?
A reading of 180/120 or higher is dangerously high. If this happens with symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, vision changes, weakness, confusion, or trouble speaking, seek emergency care right away.
What are the different stages of hypertension?
- Normal: below 120/80
- Elevated: 120–129 / below 80
- Stage 1: 130–139 or 80–89
- Stage 2: 140+ or 90+
- Hypertensive crisis: 180/120+ (urgent, especially with symptoms)
What foods are good for lowering blood pressure?
Many people do best with a simple “heart-healthy” pattern: vegetables, fruit, beans, high-fiber whole foods, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Reducing high-sodium and ultra-processed foods often makes the biggest difference.
What are the complications of high blood pressure?
Over time, uncontrolled blood pressure can damage blood vessels and strain the heart. It can raise the risk of problems like heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, vision damage, and cognitive decline.
Do you offer virtual visits and where are you located?
Yes. We offer secure telehealth visits worldwide and in-person care at our clinic in Tustin, California. We serve patients across Orange County (including Irvine, Santa Ana, Orange, Costa Mesa, and Anaheim), as well as individuals throughout the U.S. and internationally who want personalized high blood pressure and NEM stress response care from home.
The Lam Family has helped thousands recover from fatigue and stress for years.
Using advanced diagnostics and whole-body care, the Lam family looks beyond routine labs to uncover the real reasons behind fatigue—like adrenal stress, hormone imbalance, and nutrient depletion. Then, they create a personalized plan to help you heal fully and feel like yourself again.
The Pioneer of Root-Cause Healing & Whole Person Care
Before adrenal fatigue was widely understood, Dr. Michael Lam, M.D. led the way—developing one of the first clinical approaches to diagnose and treat it. His bestselling book, Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome, became a lifeline for patients around the world. Today, his children—Dr. Carrie Lam and Dr. Jeremy Lam—carry that legacy forward, building on his foundation with advanced diagnostics and whole-person care for lasting recovery.
Become a Patient Today
Integrative & Functional Medicine, Wherever You Are.
Visit us in Tustin or Mission Viejo, or connect with our team virtually.
In-Person Care
Healing that happens face-to-face. Visit our Southern California clinic for in-depth diagnostics, IV therapy, and hands-on care from doctors who know your name and story. Every visit is personalized, calm, and focused on helping you feel better—faster.
Virtual Care
Root-cause care, wherever you are. Connect with our team from anywhere in the world. Our virtual consultations bring the same expertise, lab testing access, and personalized healing plans—without leaving home.