Treatment FAQ

what is the best treatment for high blood pressure

by Johanna Runte Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Here's what you can do:
  • Eat healthy foods. Eat a heart-healthy diet. ...
  • Decrease the salt in your diet. Aim to limit sodium to less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) a day or less. ...
  • Maintain a healthy weight. ...
  • Increase physical activity. ...
  • Limit alcohol. ...
  • Don't smoke. ...
  • Manage stress. ...
  • Monitor your blood pressure at home.
Jul 1, 2021

Medication

Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure

  1. Grapes. Grape is a multi-vitamin fruit, which is a rich source of potassium and phosphorus. ...
  2. Banana. Banana contains potassium in high amount. ...
  3. Celery (Ajmud) Add celery in your diet. ...
  4. Onion Juice. ...
  5. Honey. ...
  6. Garlic. ...
  7. Basil. ...
  8. Coconut Water. ...
  9. Fenugreek Seeds. ...
  10. Cayenne Pepper. ...

More items...

Nutrition

More info A high blood pressure reading is 140/90mmHg ... The cholesterol-lowering breakfast food that could help lower the belly fat [DIET] Shingles: One thing you must not do to treat the viral infection - 'this slows healing' [INSIGHT] The intervention ...

What are the best natural remedies for high blood pressure?

  • Abstract. Increased resting blood pressure (BP) is a risk factor for many health complications. ...
  • Introduction. Blood pressure is one of the most critical indicators of a normal cardiovascular state. ...
  • Methods. ...
  • Results. ...
  • Discussion. ...
  • Conclusion. ...
  • Data availability. ...
  • Author information. ...
  • Ethics declarations. ...
  • Additional information. ...

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What is the best diet to reduce high blood pressure?

Worst Drug # 4: Chlorothiazide, sold as "Diuril". Diuril, like any diuretic or so-called "water pill", increases your risk of painful muscle cramping, paralysis, seizure, and even slipping into a coma because it flushes out vital nutrients that your body needs to keep working properly.

Which is the best medicine for high blood pressure?

What are the 4 worst blood pressure drugs?

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What is the fastest way to cure high blood pressure?

AdvertisementLose extra pounds and watch your waistline. Blood pressure often increases as weight increases. ... Exercise regularly. ... Eat a healthy diet. ... Reduce sodium in your diet. ... Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. ... Quit smoking. ... Cut back on caffeine. ... Reduce your stress.More items...

What is best medicine to treat high blood pressure?

In terms of prescriptions written, here are the top 4 high blood pressure medications,the ACE inhibitor lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) tops the list,followed by amlodipine besylate (Norvasc),a calcium channel blocker, and.generic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ).

How can I bring my blood pressure down immediately?

If you are trying to rapidly lower your blood pressure at home, dial 9-1-1 immediately. You cannot safely treat dangerous high blood pressure at home. Your best move is to lie down flat and calm yourself until emergency help arrives.

What can permanently cure high blood pressure?

There is no cure for high blood pressure. But treatment can lower blood pressure that is too high. If it is mild, high blood pressure may sometimes be brought under control by making changes to a healthier lifestyle.

What is the main cause of high blood pressure?

Common factors that can lead to high blood pressure include: A diet high in salt, fat, and/or cholesterol. Chronic conditions such as kidney and hormone problems, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Family history, especially if your parents or other close relatives have high blood pressure.

What is normal blood pressure by age?

Normal Blood Pressure By AgeAgeSBPMale51-55125.556-60129.561-65143.5Female21-25115.514 more rows

Can drinking lots of water lower blood pressure?

Something as simple as keeping yourself hydrated by drinking six to eight glasses of water every day improves blood pressure. Water makes up 73% of the human heart,¹ so no other liquid is better at controlling blood pressure.

Do bananas lower blood pressure?

Bananas. You've heard that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But you might not know that a banana a day keeps high blood pressure at bay. This fruit is packed full of potassium -- an important blood pressure-lowering mineral.

Does lemon water bring your blood pressure down?

04/8​Lowers blood pressure Lemon drink contains traces of several minerals that may be beneficial in lowering blood pressure. Calcium and potassium both can lower blood pressure in those suffering from hypertension. A study suggests that lemon water can help bring the number to the normal range immediately.

Can you live with high blood pressure without medication?

Unfortunately there is no cure for high blood pressure currently, but you can take steps to manage it even without medication. Here are 7 ways to lower your blood pressure naturally: Exercise! Regular exercise is great for your overall well-being, and it can also help with lowering your BP.

Why is my blood pressure still high on medication?

You're taking a diuretic and at least two other blood pressure medicines. But your blood pressure still isn't budging. This is called resistant hypertension. Simply put, it means that your high blood pressure (HBP or hypertension) is hard to treat and may also have an underlying (secondary) cause.

Other Medications Sometimes Used to Treat High Blood Pressure

If you're unable to reach your blood pressure goal with one or more of the above medications, other drugs that lower blood pressure include: 1. Alp...

High Blood Pressure and Other Health Problems

High blood pressure often goes hand in hand with other health problems, including: 1. Heart failure 2. Previous heart attack or stroke 3. Coronary...

Keep Trying to Reach Your Blood Pressure Goal

It's not unusual to try several medications or doses before finding what works best for you. An important way for you and your doctor to know if yo...

What is the first line of therapy for high blood pressure?

Diuretics are often recommended as the first line of therapy for most people who have high blood pressure. However, your doctor may start a medicine other than a diuretic as the first line of therapy if you have certain medical problems. For example, ACE inhibitors are often a choice for people with diabetes.

What is considered high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is now classified as a systolic blood pressure greater than 130 and diastolic over 80. To prevent high blood pressure, everyone should be encouraged to make lifestyle modifications, such as eating a healthier diet, quitting smoking, and getting more exercise. Treatment with medication is recommended to lower blood pressure ...

What to do if blood pressure is 20/10?

If your blood pressure is more than 20/10 points higher than it should be, your doctor may consider starting you on two drugs or placing you on a combination drug.

How to reduce blood pressure with alcohol?

Getting regular aerobic exercise (such as brisk walking at least 30 minutes a day, several days a week) Limiting alcohol to two drinks a day for men, one drink a day for women. In addition to lowering blood pressure, these measures enhance the effectiveness of high blood pressure drugs.

Why is high blood pressure dangerous?

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is dangerous because it can lead to strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, or kidney disease. The goal of hypertension treatment is to lower high blood pressure and protect important organs, like the brain, heart, and kidneys from damage. Treatment for hypertension has been associated with reductions in stroke ...

How to control high blood pressure?

Try these lifestyle changes to help lower and control your blood pressure. Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and reduce the amount of sodium in your diet. ...

How to keep blood pressure under control?

But you might need medication too. Taking your medications as prescribed, monitoring your blood pressure and making lifestyle changes can help you reach and maintain a healthy blood pressure.

What are some examples of beta blockers?

Examples of beta blockers include metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL), nadolol (Corgard) and atenolol (Tenormin). Renin inhibitors. Renin is a substance produced by your kidneys that triggers a series of steps that increases blood pressure.

What are some examples of calcium channel blockers?

Examples of calcium channel blockers include amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac, others), nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia) and verapamil (Verelan, Calan). Beta blockers. These drugs work by blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline.

What are some examples of medications that can cause high blood pressure?

Examples include hydralazine and minoxidil. Aldosterone antagonists. These medications are often used with other drugs, such as a diuretic. Aldosterone antagonists block the hormone aldosterone, which sometimes causes salt and fluid retention, contributing to high blood pressure.

What are the different types of diuretics?

There are three types of diuretics: thiazide, loop and potassium-sparing. Examples of diuretics include chlorothiazide (Diuril), bumetanide (Bumex) and amiloride (Midamor). If diuretics aren't enough to lower your blood pressure, your doctor might recommend adding other blood pressure medications to your treatment.

What are some examples of blood pressure medications?

Examples are spironolactone (Aldactone, Carospir) and eplerenone (Inspra). How well a drug works for you can depend on your age, sex, race, blood pressure level and overall health.

How to get blood pressure down without symptoms?

Without visible symptoms, most people are unaware that they have high blood pressure. 1. Get moving. Exercising 30 to 60 minutes a day is an important part of healthy living. Along with helping lower blood pressure, regular physical activity benefits your mood, strength, and balance.

How many people have high blood pressure?

High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects about half of American adults, estimates the American College of Cardiology. Known as a “silent killer,” it usually doesn’t cause symptoms until there’s significant damage done to the heart.

What is a normal blood pressure reading?

A normal blood pressure reading is less than 120/80 mm Hg. When blood pressure is high, the blood moves through the arteries more forcefully. This puts increased pressure on the delicate tissues in the arteries and damages the blood vessels. High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects about half of American adults, ...

What happens if you leave your blood pressure high?

When left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to serious health complications, including stroke, heart attack, and kidney damage. Regular visits to your doctor can help you monitor and control your blood pressure.

Does stress raise blood pressure?

Stress can temporarily raise your blood pressure. Too much of it can keep your pressure up for extended periods of time. It helps to identify the trigger for your stress. It may be your job, relationship, or finances. Once you know the source of your stress, you can try to find ways to fix the problem.

Does alcohol affect blood pressure?

But drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can lead to lots of health issues, including high blood pressure. Excessive drinking can also reduce the effectiveness of certain blood pressure medications.

Can smoking cigarettes raise blood pressure?

If you’re a heavy smoker, your blood pressure can stay elevated for extended periods of time. People with high blood pressure who smoke are at greater risk for developing dangerously high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.

About high blood pressure

If you have high blood pressure, you are one of about 116 million people in the United States who also have it.

Top 10 high blood pressure medications

Drugs that treat high blood pressure are known as antihypertensives. Blood pressure medications work by:

Classes of blood pressure medications

There are many classes of antihypertensive medications and many drugs within each class. This results in a large number of drugs that doctors can use to treat high blood pressure.

Frequently asked questions

The following sections answer some frequently asked questions about the treatment of high blood pressure.

Summary

There are many options available for treating high blood pressure. If you are experiencing side effects or are otherwise unhappy with your current medication, talk with your doctor. It may be possible to try a different drug and get better results.

What is the medical term for high blood pressure?

Medications for High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) High blood pressure is a term that is used to acknowledge that a person’s blood pressure is above what is considered normal. High blood pressure is also called hypertension. Measuring somebody's blood pressure gives us an indication of how effectively their heart is working to pump blood ...

Why is blood pressure high?

If their heart is having to work very hard to pump blood around their body, then their blood pressure will be high. Blood pressure is composed of two measurements. The first recording is called the systolic pressure and it measures the force the heart must pump against to get blood to flow around the body.

What is the second recording of blood pressure?

The second recording is called diastolic pressure. This measures the resting pressure when the heart relaxes between heartbeats. It is recorded while the blood pressure cuff is deflating.

Why does blood pressure cause a weak heart?

It also causes the heart to enlarge and weaken because it essentially wears itself out from having to work so hard to push blood around the body. People with high blood pressure are also more likely to develop high cholesterol, kidney and eye problems, and have poor circulation in the legs and feet.

What is the normal blood pressure?

It is recorded while the blood pressure cuff is deflating. Most experts consider a normal blood pressure to be 120/80 mm Hg. Ideally, everybody’s blood pressure should be below 130/80 mm Hg. If the first number is above 130 or the second number is above 80 then a person is said to have high blood pressure.

Can high blood pressure cause headaches?

Sometimes people may develop a headache or feel unwell; however, most do not connect these vague symptoms as having to do with their heart. If high blood pressure is left untreated, it can damage the blood vessels and increase a person’s risk of having a stroke or a heart attack.

Should blood pressure be taken before diagnosis?

For this reason, if a doctor or nurse takes your blood pressure and it is high but you don’t have any risk factors or symptoms, then at least two other separate measurements should be taken before you are diagnosed with high blood pressure.

What is the best medication for hypertension?

It’s been shown to be a great additive medication for resistant hypertension.”. Centrally acting agents, such as clonidine (Catapres, Kapvay), guanfacine (Intuniv) or methyldopa. These medications help slow your heart rate and keep your blood vessels from constricting by interfering with signals from the brain.

What to do if blood pressure isn't lowering?

If a medication isn’t doing enough to reduce your blood pressure after one month, your doctor may increase the dose or add another drug to your regimen. Medications in this arsenal include: Beta blockers, such as atenolol (Tenormin) or metoprolol (Lopressor).

What is the role of a vasodilator in the kidney?

Vasodilators relax the muscles in the blood vessel walls, enabling blood to flow more easily. Loop diuretics, such as bumetanide (Bumex) or ethacrynic acid (Edecrin). These diuretics act on a different part of the kidney than thiazide diuretics. “Loop diuretics are secondary players,” Ajithan says.

What is the best medicine for kidneys?

Thiazide diuretics (“water pills”), such as hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide) and chlorothiazide (Diuril). Thiazide diuretics help relieve pressure on your blood vessels by prompting the kidneys to remove excess fluid and salt from your body. Calcium channel blockers, such as amlodipine (Norvasc) or diltiazem (Cardizem). ...

What is the best treatment for blood vessels?

Angiotensin-receptor blockers, such as losartan (Cozaar) or valsartan (Diovan). ARBs help block angiotensin and relax the blood vessels.

How do beta blockers help your heart rate?

Beta blockers help slow your heart rate by reducing the amount of stress hormones (such as adrenaline) in the body. The drugs might be used in people with an abnormal heartbeat or a history of heart attack. “Beta blockers are good at helping the heart remodel.

What is the standard blood pressure for a high blood pressure patient?

First Lines of Defense. When you’re initially diagnosed with high blood pressure – typically defined as a measurement at or above 130/80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) – your doctor will consider if you have any underlying conditions.

What to do if you take a prescription for high blood pressure?

If you take prescription drugs for high blood pressure -- or any other condition -- ask your doctor what over-the-counter medicines you need to avoid. Tell your doctor about all medicines, herbs, and supplements that you use. Interactions are a real danger.

Can you take pain relievers with high blood pressure?

But it's crucial if you use any of the pain relievers that can make your high blood pressure get worse. Avoid alcohol. Most over-the-counter pain relievers do not mix with alcohol.

What is the best way to reduce blood pressure?

8. French Lavender. Lavender is an antioxidant that has relaxing effects and may treat hypertension by working as a vasodilator. To use lavender in the reduction of blood pressure, either drink it in tea form, or rub it on the body in essential oil form.

What herbs can help with high blood pressure?

If you are suffering from hypertension, there are herbs for high blood pressure that may work wonders. Ayurveda and Chinese herbs, in particular, have been known for lowering blood pressure and treating hypertension for thousands of years. Cardamom is an herbal remedy commonly used in Chinese and South Asian cuisine that has been found ...

What spice is used to treat hypertension?

Ginger. Ginger is a spice that has uses in treating hypertension because it is believed to improve blood circulation, and possibly lower cholesterol. Researchers studying the cardiovascular effects of ginger found that the crude extract triggered a fall in the arterial blood pressure of rats.

What foods can lower blood pressure?

2. Cinnamon . A popular addition to a wide variety of foods, from desserts to your morning latte, cinnamon could help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, especially in those suffering from diabetes. This is because it is a potent antioxidant that contains the plant compound cinnamaldehyde.

What is the best plant extract for hypertension?

18. Roselle. Roselle is actually one of the most studied plants in respect to its ability to treat hypertension. Clinical trials of the plant extract in humans have shown that it may lower blood pressure on a level comparable to pharmaceutical angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor captopril.

What is the best food for hypertension?

4. Flaxseed. Because omega-3 fatty acids are so beneficial, taking flaxseed, which contains a lot of the plant-based alpha-linolenic acid, is a great idea for your cardiovascular system. Many studies have shown the anti-hypertensive effects of a diet rich in the essential fatty acids.

Does garlic lower blood pressure?

One powerful sulfur compound found in garlic—allicin— may lower blood pressure by triggering vasodilation.

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Diagnosis

Clinical Trials

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Alternative Medicine

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Karthikeya T M
Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Simple lifestyle changes can regulate high blood pressure, but when blood pressure is very high or lifestyle measures fail, medications for life long will be recommended.
Medication

Beta blockers: Helps in reducing the heart rate thus decreasing the blood pressure.

Acebutolol . Atenolol . Betaxolol


Diuretics: Increases urination which in turn reduces the sodium and fluid content resulting in decreasing blood pressure.

Bumetanide . Chlorthalidone . Chlorothiazide


Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: Widens the blood vessels thereby aiding in easy blood flow and reduce the blood pressure.

Captopril . Fosinopril . Lisinopril . Ramipril


Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs): Helps relax the blood vessels to lower the pressure.

Losartan . Telmisartan


Calcium channel blockers: Reduces the amount of calcium entering heart muscles thereby reducing the heart rate and controlling blood pressure.

Amlodipine . Felodipine . Isradipine


Alpha blockers: The muscles of arteries and veins are relaxed thus reducing the blood pressure.

Doxazosin . Prazosin . Terazosin


Renin inhibitors: Inhibits the enzyme that favors the production of angiotensin (a peptide hormone, which aids in regulation of blood pressure) which constricts blood vessels.

Aliskiren

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Eat more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods
  • Cut back on foods that are High in saturated fat, cholesterol, and trans fats
  • Eat more whole-grain foods, fish, poultry, and nuts

Foods to avoid:

  • Frozen foods
  • Salty and sugary foods
  • Caffeine and alcohol
  • Red meats

Specialist to consult

Cardiologist
Specializes in the diagnosis and management heart related disorders.
Primary care physician
Specializes in the acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health.

Coping and Support

  • Your doctor will ask questions about your medical history and do a physical examination. The doctor, nurse or other medical assistant will place an inflatable arm cuff around your arm and measure your blood pressure using a pressure-measuring gauge. Your blood pressure generally …
See more on mayoclinic.org

Preparing For Your Appointment

  • Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
See more on mayoclinic.org

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