| High blood pressure is one of those health | | | | your blood pressure controlled with lifestyle |
| oddities that you can have for several years | | | | changes. Things like a better diet regular |
| and not even know you have it. So, what | | | | exercise and eliminating alcohol or tobacco |
| happens when you are diagnosed by the doctor | | | | use. Or at least dramatically reduce its use. |
| as having high blood pressure or | | | | |
| hypertension? To begin with, if you don't | | | | In some cases your blood pressure may be so |
| know what your blood pressure reading is | | | | high that other treatment options will also |
| currently you should have it checked. It is | | | | need to be used. This means that you could be |
| so easy to do. The next time you are at | | | | put on high blood pressure medication |
| Walgreen's pharmacy, stop over and get it | | | | immediately to get it brought down to a |
| checked at their little booth. It's free and | | | | normal level. |
| it can help. | | | | |
| | | | There are several types of anti-hypertension |
| High blood pressure is nothing to play around | | | | medications available. Your doctor will take |
| with. Its symptoms can lead to heart disease, | | | | your current health conditions into account |
| heart attacks, kidney failure, strokes and | | | | in putting you on one of these drugs. The |
| other medical problems. | | | | doctor will then monitor you for how well the |
| | | | medicine is working as well as any side |
| The normal blood pressure range that is | | | | effects. You may need to go on a different |
| generally acceptable in the medical community | | | | medication if one is not working right. |
| is 120-130 over 80-85. But this is just a | | | | |
| general guideline and may not apply in all | | | | In many cases just by making lifestyle |
| cases. For example, an African-American would | | | | changes can bring blood pressure levels back |
| have a lower limit in order to be considered | | | | down to normal. But don't feel bad if you |
| normal. | | | | find you still need medicine to help reduce |
| | | | these levels. The important thing is that you |
| What happens when you are first diagnosed | | | | get the treatment in controlling the problem. |
| with hypertension? | | | | It is completely painless and it will |
| | | | certainly add many more years to your life. |
| In most cases your doctor will try and get | | | | |