High blood pressure; HBP; Blood pressure - high
Treatment
The goal of treatment is to reduce blood pressure so that you have a lower risk of complications.
There are many different medicines that can be used to treat high blood pressure, including:
- Alpha blockers
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
- Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)
- Beta-blockers
- Calcium channel blockers
- Central alpha agonists
- Diuretics
- Renin inhibitors, including aliskiren (Tekturna)
- Vasodilators
Your doctor may also tell you to exercise, lose weight, and follow a healthier diet. If you have pre-hypertension, your doctor will recommend the same lifestyle changes to bring your blood pressure down to a normal range.
Often, a single blood pressure drug may not be enough to control your blood pressure, and you may need to take two or more drugs. It is very important that you take the medications prescribed to you. If you have side effects, your health care provider can substitute a different medication.
Support Groups
Expectations (prognosis)
Most of the time, high blood pressure can be controlled with medicine and lifestyle changes.
Complications
-
Aortic dissection - Blood vessel damage (
arteriosclerosis ) - Brain damage
-
Congestive heart failure -
Kidney damage -
Kidney failure -
Heart attack -
Hypertensive heart disease -
Stroke -
Vision loss
Calling your health care provider
If you have high blood pressure, you will have regularly scheduled appointments with your doctor.
Even if you have not been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is important to have your blood pressure checked during your yearly check-up, especially if someone in your family has or had high blood pressure.
Call your health care provider right away if home monitoring shows that your blood pressure remains high or you have any of the following symptoms:
- Chest pain
- Confusion
- Excessive tiredness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Severe headache
- Shortness of breath
- Significant sweating
- Vision changes
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