As part of your treatment, it is important to have your blood pressure checked by your doctor at regular intervals. Your doctor will tell you how often that needs to be.

You may want to consider a home blood pressure monitor as well. Bring the readings to your doctor when you go for your visits.

Necessary lifestyle changes to help bring your blood pressure down include:

• Weight loss if you have extra pounds
• Regular exercise
• Follow a low fat diet rich in fish, chicken, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and very light on red meats
• Limit sodium intake; talk to your doctor or nutritionist about how best to do this

Medications that may be prescribed are listed below. Many people need 2 or more medications to control blood pressure.

• Diuretics
• Beta-blockers
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)
• Calcium channel blockers
• Hydralazine, clonidine, doxazosin, and prazosin

Essential hypertension is controllable with proper treatment. It requires lifelong monitoring, and treatment may require periodic adjustments.

• Heart attacks
• Congestive heart failure
• Other heart damage
• Blood vessel damage (arteriosclerosis)
• Kidney damage
• Stroke
• Loss of vision

Even if you have not been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is important to have your blood pressure checked at annual exams, especially if you have a history of high blood pressure in your family.

If you have high blood pressure, you will have regularly scheduled appointments with your doctor.

In between appointments, if you have any of the following symptoms call your health care provider right away:

• Severe headache
• Excessive tiredness
• Confusion
• Visual changes
• Nausea and vomiting
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Significant sweating