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Illustrated Health Encyclopedia
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Ency. home > Disease > H > Hypertension

Hypertension   

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

High blood pressure

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to reduce blood pressure to a level where there is decreased risk of complications. Treatment may occur at home with close supervision by the health care provider, or may occur in the hospital.

Medications may include diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), or alpha blockers. Medications such as hydralazine, minoxidil, diazoxide, or nitroprusside may be required if the blood pressure is very high.

Have your blood pressure checked at regular intervals (as often as recommended by the provider).

Lifestyle changes may reduce high blood pressure, including weight loss, exercise, and dietary adjustments (see "Prevention").

Prognosis

Hypertension is controllable with treatment. It requires lifelong monitoring, and the treatment may require adjustments periodically.

Complications

Call Your Health Care Provider If:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if:

  • you think you may have hypertension.
  • your blood pressure remains high even with treatment, or if other symptoms develop.

Ency. home > Disease > H > Hypertension

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