Most people are surprised when they are given a diagnosis of high
blood pressure. They have no symptoms and usually feel perfectly
healthy. But their disorder, if left untreated, can lead to a stroke,
heart failure and other problems just as serious.
After the first diagnosis, the dilemma is how best to bring the pressure down, people with mild hypertension, the majority of high-blood pressure cases, have many options: life-style changes, drugs, or a combination of both.
Moreover, with dozens of blood pressure drugs on the marker, if one causes undue side effects, the doctor can usually prescribe another that does not. So if you have high blood pressure, take heart: this is a very treatable disease.
۩ When treatment is necessary:
Blood pressure represents the push of blood against the walls of the arteries. The first, higher number in a reading is the systolic pressure, recorded when your heart beats. The second number is the diastolic, when your heart is at rest. A reading of 120/80 or less is considered the healthiest.
Certain people are more at risk for high blood pressure than others, especially those with family histories of the disorder, blacks and the elderly. But high blood pressure is so common that every one should be tested initially at age three, during adolescence and early adulthood, and once every two years after that if pressure has been normal.
Many doctors treat all patients with diastolic pressure above 90. The practice is not universal though. Careful watchful waiting between 95 and 104, if there is no evidence of strain on the heart, eyes or kidneys. Some people return to normal pressure with no treatment, and that the drugs prescribed are often riskier than mild hypertension.
۩ Changing your habits:
For diastolic 104, drugs are clearly the first line of defense. Your doctor may prescribe drugs for lower pressure if you have a family history of hypertension or have blood vessel or organ damage. But for mildly elevated pressures, you may be better off by making some life-style changes. The key steps:
۩ Take off weight:
Losing just ten pounds, and keeping it off, is often enough to bring pressure back down to normal. Crash, diets, however, with their resulting weight swings, may do more harm than good.
۩ Exercise:
Even if no weight is lost, regular exercise can reduce blood pressure.
۩ Reduce salt intake:
Use in moderation. This is hard since 70 % of the salt in food may be put there before it reaches the table. But 20 to 25% of those with mild hypertension can get back to normal by greatly lowering salt intake.
۩ Reduce stress:
Techniques that bring about a relaxation response are an effective therapy for mild hypertension.
۩ If you need drugs:
When medication is necessary, you traditionally start out by taking a water pill and a beta blocker in reduced dose. If blood pressure does not go down, you increase the dosage or try a different drug. Diuretics, beta blockers and almost any drug can cause many side effects dizziness, fatigue, loss of sex drive, nausea, headaches, depression, palpitations, diarrhea, night mares and cold feet. But side effects will occur only in a small number of people. Many side effects can be eliminated by reducing drug dosage and salt intake.
After the first diagnosis, the dilemma is how best to bring the pressure down, people with mild hypertension, the majority of high-blood pressure cases, have many options: life-style changes, drugs, or a combination of both.
Moreover, with dozens of blood pressure drugs on the marker, if one causes undue side effects, the doctor can usually prescribe another that does not. So if you have high blood pressure, take heart: this is a very treatable disease.
۩ When treatment is necessary:
Blood pressure represents the push of blood against the walls of the arteries. The first, higher number in a reading is the systolic pressure, recorded when your heart beats. The second number is the diastolic, when your heart is at rest. A reading of 120/80 or less is considered the healthiest.
Certain people are more at risk for high blood pressure than others, especially those with family histories of the disorder, blacks and the elderly. But high blood pressure is so common that every one should be tested initially at age three, during adolescence and early adulthood, and once every two years after that if pressure has been normal.
Many doctors treat all patients with diastolic pressure above 90. The practice is not universal though. Careful watchful waiting between 95 and 104, if there is no evidence of strain on the heart, eyes or kidneys. Some people return to normal pressure with no treatment, and that the drugs prescribed are often riskier than mild hypertension.
۩ Changing your habits:
For diastolic 104, drugs are clearly the first line of defense. Your doctor may prescribe drugs for lower pressure if you have a family history of hypertension or have blood vessel or organ damage. But for mildly elevated pressures, you may be better off by making some life-style changes. The key steps:
۩ Take off weight:
Losing just ten pounds, and keeping it off, is often enough to bring pressure back down to normal. Crash, diets, however, with their resulting weight swings, may do more harm than good.
۩ Exercise:
Even if no weight is lost, regular exercise can reduce blood pressure.
۩ Reduce salt intake:
Use in moderation. This is hard since 70 % of the salt in food may be put there before it reaches the table. But 20 to 25% of those with mild hypertension can get back to normal by greatly lowering salt intake.
۩ Reduce stress:
Techniques that bring about a relaxation response are an effective therapy for mild hypertension.
۩ If you need drugs:
When medication is necessary, you traditionally start out by taking a water pill and a beta blocker in reduced dose. If blood pressure does not go down, you increase the dosage or try a different drug. Diuretics, beta blockers and almost any drug can cause many side effects dizziness, fatigue, loss of sex drive, nausea, headaches, depression, palpitations, diarrhea, night mares and cold feet. But side effects will occur only in a small number of people. Many side effects can be eliminated by reducing drug dosage and salt intake.
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