Hypertension management strategies -
Maintaining an awareness of your numbers can alert you to any changes and help you detect patterns. Download a printable blood pressure log PDF.
You and your health care professional are partners. Educate yourself about HBP and learn how to monitor your blood pressure at home.
Armed with this information, you can commit to living heart healthy. Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisors. See our editorial policies and staff. High Blood Pressure.
The Facts About HBP. Understanding Blood Pressure Readings. Why HBP is a "Silent Killer". The articles also discussed treating masked hypertension based on subphenotype in patients having associated metabolic syndrome and treating hypertension with nebivolol in sub-Saharan Africa.
These findings could prove useful in hypertension treatment in specific populations. The non-linear association of normal range systolic BP with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death in older patients above 65 years of age and the non-linear association of SBP with in-hospital mortality of type A Aortic Dissection will help in determining an optimal BP target in these populations.
The suggested use of intermittent monitoring for assessing the rate of incident AF in hypertensives will help in assessing the association between blood pressure and incident AF.
This will help in reaching the consensus on target BP for preventing new-onset AF. Lastly, a positive effects of time-limited financial incentive to general practitioners GPs was found on the proportion of patients achieving the recommended blood pressure target levels.
After the withdrawal of financial incentives for the GPs after 12 months, some quality of life indicators QIs still improved, but there was decrease in QI achievement rates after 18 months, suggesting that 1 year might be too short to observe the full effect of such interventions and the positive effects of time-limited financial incentives eventually wane.
All authors listed have made a substantial, direct, and intellectual contribution to the work and approved it for publication.
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers.
Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher. Mills KT, Stefanescu A, He J.
The global epidemiology of hypertension. Nat Rev Nephrol. doi: PubMed Abstract CrossRef Full Text Google Scholar.
Harrison DG, Coffman TM, Wilcox CS. Pathophysiology of hypertension: The mosaic theory and beyond. Circ Res. Chan You S, Krumholz HM, Suchard MA, Schuemie MJ, Hripcsak G, Chen R, et al.
Comprehensive comparative effectiveness and safety of first-line β-blocker monotherapy in hypertensive patients: A large-scale multicenter observational study. Hong D, Shan W. Improvement in hypertension management with pharmacological and non- pharmacological approaches: Current perspectives.
Curr Pharm Des. Keywords: hypertension, intestinal barrier, financial incentives, masked hypertension, high-risk metabolic syndrome, blood group, nebivolol.
Citation: Marwaha K, Mody FV, Basu-Ray I and Norris KC Editorial: Strategies for improving hypertension management. It's important that the cuff fits.
If it's too big or too small, blood pressure readings can vary. The cuff is inflated using a small hand pump or a machine. A blood pressure reading measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats top number, called systolic pressure and between heartbeats bottom number, called diastolic pressure.
To measure blood pressure, an inflatable cuff is usually placed around the arm. A machine or small hand pump is used to inflate the cuff. In this image, a machine records the blood pressure reading.
This is called an automated blood pressure measurement. The first time your blood pressure is checked, it should be measured in both arms to see if there's a difference.
After that, the arm with the higher reading should be used. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury mm Hg. A blood pressure reading has two numbers. A diagnosis of high blood pressure is usually based on the average of two or more readings taken on separate occasions. Blood pressure is grouped according to how high it is.
This is called staging. Staging helps guide treatment. Sometimes the bottom blood pressure reading is normal less than 80 mm Hg but the top number is high. This is called isolated systolic hypertension.
It's a common type of high blood pressure in people older than If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, your provider may recommend tests to check for a cause. Your health care provider may ask you to regularly check your blood pressure at home. Home monitoring is a good way to keep track of your blood pressure.
It helps your care providers know if your medicine is working or if your condition is getting worse. For the most reliable blood pressure measurement, the American Heart Association recommends using a monitor with a cuff that goes around your upper arm, when available.
Devices that measure your blood pressure at your wrist or finger aren't recommended by the American Heart Association because they can provide less reliable results. Changing your lifestyle can help control and manage high blood pressure.
Your health care provider may recommend that you make lifestyle changes including:. Sometimes lifestyle changes aren't enough to treat high blood pressure.
If they don't help, your provider may recommend medicine to lower your blood pressure. The type of medicine used to treat hypertension depends on your overall health and how high your blood pressure is.
Two or more blood pressure drugs often work better than one. It can take some time to find the medicine or combination of medicines that works best for you. When taking blood pressure medicine, it's important to know your goal blood pressure level. The ideal blood pressure goal can vary with age and health conditions, particularly if you're older than age Water pills diuretics.
These drugs help remove sodium and water from the body. They are often the first medicines used to treat high blood pressure. There are different classes of diuretics, including thiazide, loop and potassium sparing.
Which one your provider recommends depends on your blood pressure measurements and other health conditions, such as kidney disease or heart failure. Diuretics commonly used to treat blood pressure include chlorthalidone, hydrochlorothiazide Microzide and others.
A common side effect of diuretics is increased urination. Urinating a lot can reduce potassium levels. A good balance of potassium is necessary to help the heart beat correctly. If you have low potassium hypokalemia , your provider may recommend a potassium-sparing diuretic that contains triamterene.
Calcium channel blockers. These drugs help relax the muscles of the blood vessels. Some slow your heart rate. They include amlodipine Norvasc , diltiazem Cardizem, Tiazac, others and others. Calcium channel blockers may work better for older people and Black people than do angiotensin-converting enzyme ACE inhibitors alone.
Don't eat or drink grapefruit products when taking calcium channel blockers. Grapefruit increases blood levels of certain calcium channel blockers, which can be dangerous.
Talk to your provider or pharmacist if you're concerned about interactions. If you're having trouble reaching your blood pressure goal with combinations of the above medicines, your provider may prescribe:. Beta blockers. These medicines reduce the workload on the heart and widen the blood vessels.
This helps the heart beat slower and with less force. Beta blockers include atenolol Tenormin , metoprolol Lopressor, Toprol-XL, Kapspargo sprinkle and others. Beta blockers aren't usually recommended as the only medicine prescribed.
They may work best when combined with other blood pressure drugs. Renin inhibitors. Aliskiren Tekturna slows the production of renin, an enzyme produced by the kidneys that starts a chain of chemical steps that increases blood pressure. Due to a risk of serious complications, including stroke, you shouldn't take aliskiren with ACE inhibitors or ARBs.
Always take blood pressure medicines as prescribed. Never skip a dose or abruptly stop taking blood pressure medicines. Suddenly stopping certain ones, such as beta blockers, can cause a sharp increase in blood pressure called rebound hypertension.
If you skip doses because of cost, side effects or forgetfulness, talk to your care provider about solutions. Don't change your treatment without your provider's guidance.
Having resistant hypertension doesn't mean your blood pressure will never get lower. If you and your provider can determine the cause, a more effective treatment plan can be created.
If you have high blood pressure and are pregnant, discuss with your care providers how to control blood pressure during your pregnancy. Researchers have been studying the use of heat to destroy specific nerves in the kidney that may play a role in resistant hypertension.
The method is called renal denervation. Early studies showed some benefit. But more-robust studies found that it doesn't significantly lower blood pressure in people with resistant hypertension.
More research is underway to determine what role, if any, this therapy may have in treating hypertension. Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. A commitment to a healthy lifestyle can help prevent and manage high blood pressure.
Try these heart-healthy strategies:. Get more exercise. Regular exercise keeps the body healthy. It can lower blood pressure, ease stress, manage weight and reduce the risk of chronic health conditions. Aim to get at least minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic activity, or a combination of the two.
If you have high blood pressure, consistent moderate- to high-intensity workouts can lower your top blood pressure reading by about 11 mm Hg and the bottom number by about 5 mm Hg. Diet and exercise are the best ways to lower blood pressure.
But some supplements are promoted as heart healthy. These supplements include:. Researchers are also studying whether vitamin D can reduce blood pressure, but evidence is conflicting. More research is needed. Talk to your care provider before adding any supplements to your blood pressure treatment.
Some can interact with medicines, causing harmful side effects that could be life-threatening. Deep breathing or mindfulness are alterative medicine techniques that can help you relax.
These practices may temporarily reduce blood pressure. High blood pressure isn't something that you can treat and then ignore. It's a condition that requires regular health checkups. Some things you can do to help manage the condition are:.
If you think you may have high blood pressure, make an appointment with your health care provider for a blood pressure test. You might want to wear a short-sleeved shirt to your appointment so it's easier to place the blood pressure cuff around your arm.
No special preparations are necessary for a blood pressure test. To get an accurate reading, avoid caffeine, exercise and tobacco for at least 30 minutes before the test. Because some medicines can raise blood pressure, bring a list of all medicines, vitamins and other supplements you take and their doses to your medical appointment.
Don't stop taking any medicines without your provider's advice. Appointments can be brief. Because there's often a lot to discuss, it's a good idea to be prepared for your appointment.
Here's some information to help you get ready. Preparing a list of questions can help you and your provider make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out.
For high blood pressure, some basic questions to ask your provider include:. Your health care provider is likely to ask you questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on.
Your provider may ask:. It's never too early to make healthy lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, eating healthy foods and getting more exercise.
These are the main ways to protect yourself against high blood pressure and its complications, including heart attack and stroke. On this page. Self care. Alternative medicine. Coping and support. Preparing for your appointment. Hypertension FAQs. Leslie Thomas, M. Show Transcript.
What is the best way to measure my blood pressure at home? What could be causing my blood pressure to be quite erratic?
Should I restrict salt to reduce my blood pressure? How can I lower my blood pressure without medication? What is the best medication to take for hypertension?
Are certain blood pressure medications harmful to my kidneys? How can I be the best partner to my medical team? Blood pressure measurement. Top number, called systolic pressure.
The first, or upper, number measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats. Bottom number, called diastolic pressure. The second, or lower, number measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats.
Stage 1 hypertension. The top number is between and mm Hg or the bottom number is between 80 and 89 mm Hg.
Stage 2 hypertension. The top number is mm Hg or higher or the bottom number is 90 mm Hg or higher. Tests If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, your provider may recommend tests to check for a cause. Ambulatory monitoring.
A longer blood pressure monitoring test may be done to check blood pressure at regular times over six or 24 hours. This is called ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.
However, the devices used for the test aren't available in all medical centers. Check with your insurer to see if ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is a covered service.
Lab tests. Blood and urine tests are done to check for conditions that can cause or worsen high blood pressure. For example, tests are done to check your cholesterol and blood sugar levels. You may also have lab tests to check your kidney, liver and thyroid function.
Electrocardiogram ECG or EKG. This quick and painless test measures the heart's electrical activity. It can tell how fast or how slow the heart is beating. During an electrocardiogram ECG , sensors called electrodes are attached to the chest and sometimes to the arms or legs.
Wires connect the sensors to a machine, which prints or displays results. This noninvasive exam uses sound waves to create detailed images of the beating heart. It shows how blood moves through the heart and heart valves.
Taking your blood pressure at home Your health care provider may ask you to regularly check your blood pressure at home. Home blood pressure monitors are available at local stores and pharmacies. More Information. Blood pressure chart. Blood pressure test.
Your health care provider may recommend that you make lifestyle changes including: Eating a heart-healthy diet with less salt Getting regular physical activity Maintaining a healthy weight or losing weight Limiting alcohol Not smoking Getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep daily Sometimes lifestyle changes aren't enough to treat high blood pressure.
Medications The type of medicine used to treat hypertension depends on your overall health and how high your blood pressure is. Medicines used to treat high blood pressure include: Water pills diuretics.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme ACE inhibitors. These drugs help relax blood vessels. They block the formation of a natural chemical that narrows blood vessels. Examples include lisinopril Prinivil, Zestril , benazepril Lotensin , captopril and others. Angiotensin II receptor blockers ARBs.
These drugs also relax blood vessels.
Mayo Clinic offers appointments in Arizona, Hupertension and Minnesota and at Mayo Clinic Health System locations. By making these Hypertension management strategies lifestyle changes, Hypertrnsion can lower your Manage,ent pressure and Hypertenaion your risk of heart disease. If you have high blood pressure, you may wonder if medication is necessary to bring the numbers down. But lifestyle plays a vital role in treating high blood pressure. Controlling blood pressure with a healthy lifestyle might prevent, delay or reduce the need for medication. Blood pressure often increases as weight increases. I'm Dr. Leslie Thomas, a nephrologist at Mayo Clinic. Hypertension management strategies I'm here Alpha-lipoic acid side effects answer Hypertension management strategies Hypdrtension the important questions you might have about hypertension. Measuring your blood pressure at home is a straightforward process. Many people have a slightly higher blood pressure in one arm versus the other.
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