What Is Hypertension?

Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure, which is classified as any blood pressures above systolic 130 and diastolic 80. Hypertension is considered dangerous because it is the root cause for several conditions like kidney and heart failure, heart attacks and strokes.

Medical treatments for hypertension make sure that the blood pressure remains at the optimal level and prevent the heart, kidneys and brain from suffering damage. With the right hypertension treatment, it has been seen that:

• Strokes lessen by 35 to 40%.
• Heart failure reduced by over 50%.
• Heart attacks lower by 20 to 25%.

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Treating Hypertension With Lifestyle Changes

There are two types of medical treatments for hypertension – lifestyle changes and drug therapy. Anyone who suffers from high blood pressure is encouraged to make modifications in their lifestyle. It has shown to be a critical step in controlling hypertension. Here are some of the changes doctors recommend:

• Eating a healthy diet that contains more vegetables and fruits rather than fat. Using low-fat dairy products and less saturated fat items.
• Exercising more so that weight remains within the healthy range. Loss of weight is recommended if the person is obese. Simple aerobic workouts like brisk walks for half an hour every day are great.
• The per-day consumption of sodium has to be less than 1500 milligrams, while for a healthy adult, the maximum salt allowed is 2300 milligrams in a day.
• Alcohol consumption has to be limited to 2 drinks if you are a male and 1 drink if you’re a female.
• Smoking is strictly not allowed.

Treating High Blood Pressure With Medication

The second medical treatment for hypertension is through medication. Drugs are given to those people who are over the age of 65 or have other risk factors like high cholesterol or diabetes. Here are some of the medicines that are used to bring the blood pressure lower than 130/80:

Calcium channel blockersBeta-blockers

Once drug medical treatments for hypertension start, follow-up with the doctor becomes necessary. At the beginning of the treatment, one appointment with your primary healthcare practitioner every month is essential until the time you reach the optimal blood pressure.

Once the goal is achieved, one or two follow-ups in a year are required to keep an eye on the potassium level in your body. This is important because diuretic drugs lower potassium levels, while ACE inhibitors along with ARBs increase it. Moreover, the doctor will also evaluate the health of your kidneys through creatinine level and electrolytes.

Even when your blood pressure has been controlled through medical treatments for hypertension, remember to consult with your doctor every 3 to 6 months to stay healthy and fit.