High Blood Pressure

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of high blood pressure.

Alternative Names

Beta Blockers; Calcium Channel Blockers; Hypertension

Treatment

Perhaps the best initial approach for most patients with hypertension is to work with their physicians to set blood pressure goals based on their individual risk factors and to plan the optimal life-style and medication programs. Most people should strive for 140/90 mm Hg or below. People with diabetics should aim lower (130/85 mm Hg) to help reduce the chance for kidney complications.

Healthy life style changes are imperative for anyone, and are critical for people with even normal blood pressure and above. In appropriate patients, aggressive drug treatment of long-term high blood pressure can significantly reduce the incidence of mental decline and death from heart disease and other serious physical effects of hypertension. In people with diabetes, controlling both blood pressure and blood glucose levels prevents serious complications of that disease. Anti-hypertensive agents may even prevent mental decline, including in people genetically susceptible to Alzheimer's disease. Nevertheless, only slightly over half of patients with hypertension are treated at all and only a quarter has adequately controlled pressure.

It is not altogether clear when drugs should be started, particularly for people with high-normal or mild high blood pressure. To help make basic treatment choices, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has created categories (denoted as groups A, B, and C) according to a patient's risk factors for heart disease. Applying these categories to the severity of hypertension helps determine whether lifestyle changes alone or medications are needed.