Treatment FAQ

what is treatment for high blood pressure?

by Waldo Abernathy Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Medications used to treat high blood pressure include: Diuretics. Diuretics, sometimes called water pills, are medications that help your kidneys eliminate sodium and water from the body. These drugs are often the first medications tried to treat high blood pressure.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

Treatment - High blood pressure (hypertension)

  • When treatment is recommended. Everyone with high blood pressure is advised to make healthy lifestyle changes. ...
  • Lifestyle changes. There are some changes you could make to your lifestyle to reduce high blood pressure. ...
  • Medicines for high blood pressure. ...
  • High blood pressure in older people. ...

What are the best natural remedies for high blood pressure?

Thiazide diuretics are usually one of the first treatments recommended to help reduce blood pressure. They can be used to treat a wide variety of other conditions, such as liver and heart failure. Diuretics are generally safe medications. One of the most common side effects is excess urination.

What is the best way to manage high blood pressure?

Manage High Blood Pressure

  • Measure Your Blood Pressure on a Regular Basis. Measuring your blood pressure is an important step toward keeping a healthy blood pressure. ...
  • Manage Diabetes. Most people with diabetes —about 6 out of 10—also have high blood pressure. ...
  • Take Your Medicine. ...
  • Make Lifestyle Changes. ...
  • Talk with Your Health Care Team. ...
  • Reference. ...

What is the best drug for high blood pressure?

What to do at home for high blood pressure?

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What is the best way to reduce blood pressure?

Diuretics . Diuretics , sometimes called water pills, help the kidneys get rid of excess water and salt (sodium). This reduces the volume of blood that needs to pass through the blood vessels. As a result, blood pressure goes down. There are three major types of diuretics defined by how they work.

What is considered high blood pressure?

The goal is to get your blood pressure below the high range. If normal is less than 120/80 mm Hg, what’s high? When the systolic blood pressure — the top number — is between 120 and 129, and the diastolic blood pressure — the bottom number — is less than 80, this is considered elevated blood pressure.

How does catecholamine affect blood pressure?

The muscles around some blood vessels have what are known as alpha-1 or alpha adrenergic receptors. When a catecholamine binds to an alpha-1 receptor, the muscle contracts, the blood vessel narrows, and blood pressure rises.

How to make the most of your treatment?

To make the most of your treatment, it’s vital to get regular medical checkups and blood pressure tests. Regular checkups allow your doctor to monitor how well your treatment is going and make any necessary adjustments to your treatment plan.

What is the effect of ARBs on blood pressure?

ARBs block the action of angiotensin II directly on the blood vessels. It attaches at the receptor site on the blood vessels and keeps them from narrowing. This causes blood pressure to fall.

What is the purpose of calcium channel blockers?

Calcium channel blockers limit calcium from entering the smooth muscle cells of the heart and blood vessels. This makes the heart beat less forcefully with each beat and helps blood vessels relax.

What is resistant hypertension?

Resistant hypertension refers to blood pressure that remains high after trying at least three different types of blood pressure medication. Someone whose high blood pressure is controlled by taking four different kinds of medication is considered to have resistant hypertension.

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 blood pressure?

Eat less saturated fat and trans fat. Maintain a healthy weight. Keeping a healthy weight, or losing weight if you're overweight or obese, can help you control your blood pressure and lower your risk of related health problems.

How to lower blood pressure with diet?

Eat a healthy diet. Try the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. Choose fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, fish and low-fat dairy foods. Get plenty of potassium from natural sources, which can help lower blood pressure.

How to get blood pressure checked?

If you think you may have elevated blood pressure or high blood pressure, make an appointment with your family doctor to have your blood pressure checked. No special preparations are necessary. To get an accurate reading, avoid caffeine, exercise and tobacco for at least 30 minutes before your test.

What is blood pressure test?

A blood pressure test diagnoses elevated blood pressure. This often involves an inflatable arm cuff placed around your arm and a pressure-measuring gauge. A blood pressure reading, given in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), has two numbers. The first, or upper, number measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats (systolic pressure).

How long should blood pressure be measured?

After that, the arm with the higher reading should be used. Your doctor might suggest a six-hour or 24-hour blood pressure monitoring test called ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

How to reduce sodium in food?

Use less salt (sodium). Put down the saltshaker. Also reduce your intake of processed meats, canned foods, commercial soups, frozen dinners and certain breads, which can be hidden sources of sodium. Read labels and pay attention to the sodium content. Aim to limit sodium by at least 1,000 milligrams (mg) a day.

Does insurance cover blood pressure monitors?

However, these devices aren't available in all medical centers, and insurance may not cover them. Your doctor might also recommend that you use a home blood pressure monitor, preferably one that can store your readings in its memory, to check your blood pressure regularly.

How to lower blood pressure if you have high blood pressure?

Eating a diet that is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products and skimps on saturated fat and cholesterol can lower your blood pressure by up to 11 mm Hg if you have high blood pressure. This eating plan is known as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet.

Does weight increase blood pressure?

Blood pressure often increases as weight increases. Being overweight also can cause disrupted breathing while you sleep (sleep apnea), which further raises your blood pressure. Weight loss is one of the most effective lifestyle changes for controlling blood pressure.

Does smoking cigarettes raise blood pressure?

Each cigarette you smoke increases your blood pressure for many minutes after you finish. Stopping smoking helps your blood pressure return to normal. Quitting smoking can reduce your risk of heart disease and improve your overall health. People who quit smoking may live longer than people who never quit smoking.

Does coffee raise blood pressure?

The role caffeine plays in blood pressure is still debated. Caffeine can raise blood pressure up to 10 mm Hg in people who rarely consume it. But people who drink coffee regularly may experience little or no effect on their blood pressure.

Why does the heart have to work harder?

To pump blood against the higher pressure in your vessels , the heart has to work harder. This causes the walls of the heart's pumping chamber to thicken (left ventricular hypertrophy). Eventually, the thickened muscle may have a hard time pumping enough blood to meet your body's needs, which can lead to heart failure.

Why is blood pressure high in children?

For some children, high blood pressure is caused by problems with the kidneys or heart. But for a growing number of kids, poor lifestyle habits — such as an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise — contribute to high blood pressure.

How is blood pressure determined?

Blood pressure is determined both by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure. A blood pressure reading is given in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). It has two numbers.

Why is potassium important for heart health?

Potassium helps balance the amount of sodium in your cells. A proper balance of potassium is critical for good heart health. If you don't get enough potassium in your diet, or you lose too much potassium due to dehydration or other health conditions, sodium can build up in your blood. Drinking too much alcohol.

What is the long term force of blood against the artery walls?

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems, such as heart disease.

What is the name of the condition that causes high blood pressure?

Secondary hypertension. Some people have high blood pressure caused by an underlying condition. This type of high blood pressure, called secondary hypertension, tends to appear suddenly and cause higher blood pressure than does primary hypertension.

Does smoking raise blood pressure?

Not only does smoking or chewing tobacco immediately raise your blood pressure temporarily, but the chemicals in tobacco can damage the lining of your artery walls. This can cause your arteries to narrow and increase your risk of heart disease. Secondhand smoke also can increase your heart disease risk.

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is blood pressure that is higher than normal. Your blood pressure changes throughout the day based on your activities. Having blood pressure measures consistently above normal may result in a diagnosis of high blood pressure (or hypertension). The higher your blood pressure levels, ...

Why is blood pressure important?

You can manage your blood pressure to lower your risk for serious health problems that may affect your heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes. You can manage your blood pressure to lower your risk for serious health problems that may affect your heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes.

What is the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure?

The first number, called systolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. The second number, called diastolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats. If the measurement reads 120 systolic and 80 diastolic, you would say, “120 over 80,” or write, “120/80 mmHg.”.

How does high blood pressure affect the heart?

High blood pressure can damage your arteries by making them less elastic, which decreases the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart and leads to heart disease. In addition, decreased blood flow to the heart can cause:

What is the blood pressure of the heart?

Blood pressure is the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body. Your blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day.

Why is high blood pressure called the silent killer?

High blood pressure is called the “silent killer” because it usually has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it.

Why does high blood pressure happen during pregnancy?

It can happen because of unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as not getting enough regular physical activity. Certain health conditions, such as diabetes and having obesity, can also increase the risk for developing high blood pressure. High blood pressure can also happen during pregnancy.

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.

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.

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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

Diagnosis

  • Lifestyle changes can help you control and prevent high blood pressure, even if you're taking blood pressure medication. Here's what you can do: 1. Eat healthy foods.Eat a heart-healthy diet. Try the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, fish and low-fat dairy foods. Get plenty of potassium, which ca…
See more on mayoclinic.org

Treatment

  • Although diet and exercise are the most appropriate tactics to lower your blood pressure, some supplements also may help lower it. However, more research is needed to determine the potential benefits. These supplements include: 1. Fiber, such as blond psyllium and wheat bran 2. Minerals, such as magnesium, calcium and potassium 3. Folic acid 4. Supplements or products that incre…
See more on mayoclinic.org

Clinical Trials

  • High blood pressure isn't a problem that you can treat and then ignore. It's a condition you need to manage for the rest of your life. To keep your blood pressure under control: 1. Take your medications properly.If side effects or costs pose problems, don't stop taking your medications. Ask your doctor about other options. 2. Schedule regular doctor visits.It takes a team effort to tr…
See more on mayoclinic.org

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

  • If you think you may have high blood pressure, make an appointment with your doctor to have your blood pressure checked. No special preparations are necessary to have your blood pressure checked. You might want to wear a short-sleeved shirt to your appointment so that the blood pressure cuff can fit around your arm properly. Avoid eating, drinking caffeinated beverages an…
See more on mayoclinic.org

Preparing For Your Appointment

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