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Overview of High Blood Pressure Treatment
from: Kyle BesserHypertension, or high blood pressure, is a dangerous condition because it can lead to strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, kidney disease and other health problems.
The goal of hypertension treatment is to lower high blood pressure and protect important organs, like the brain, heart, and kidneys, from damage. Treatment for hypertension has been associated with reductions in stroke an average of 35%-40%), heart attack 20%-25%, and heart failure more than 50%, according to research.
Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg. High blood pressure is classified as:
Prehypertension: 120-139/80-89 mmHg
Hypertension: greater than 140/90 mmHg
Stage 1 Hypertension:140-159/90-99 mmHg
Stage 2 Hypertension: 160 or greater/ 100 or greater mmHg
Treating high blood pressure involves lifestyle changes and possibly drug therapy. All patients with blood pressure readings greater than 120/80 should be encouraged to make lifestyle modifications, such as eating a healthier diet, quitting smoking, and getting more exercise. Treatment with medication is recommended to lower blood pressure to less than 140/90 mmHg. For patients who have diabetes or chronic kidney disease, it is recommended to lower blood pressure to less than 130/80 mmHg.
Lifestyle Changes to Treat High Blood Pressure
A critical step in preventing and treating high blood pressure is a healthy lifestyle. You can help lower your blood pressure with the following lifestyle changes:
*Lose weight if you are overweight or obese.
*Quit smoking.
*Eat a healthy diet, including the DASH diet.
*Reduce the amount of salt in your diet.
*Get daily exercise.
*Limit alcohol to two drinks a day for men, one drink a day for women.
In addition to helping lower blood pressure, these lifestyle modifications enhance the effectiveness of high blood pressure drugs.
Drugs to Treat High Blood Pressure
There are several types of drugs used to treat high blood pressure, including:
*Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
*Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)
*Diuretics
*Beta-blockers
*Calcium channel blockers
Diuretics are usually recommended as the first line of therapy for most people who have high blood pressure. If one drug doesn't work or is disagreeable, other types of diuretics are available. However, your doctor may start a medicine other than a diuretic as the first line of therapy if you have certain medical problems. ACE inhibitors, for example, are often a good choice for a people with diabetes. If your blood pressure is more than 20/10 mmHg higher than it should be, your doctor may consider starting you on two drugs.
High Blood Pressure Treatment Follow-Up
After starting high blood pressure drug therapy, you should see your doctor at least once a month until the blood pressure goal is reached. After the blood pressure goal is reached, you should continue to see your doctor every three to six months, depending on whether other diseases such as heart failure are present.
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