According to the forecasts of the Family Health Network, 1.5 billion adults will be suffering from hypertension by the end of 2025. They have also come up with the startling conclusion that for every person receiving treatment for hypertension, one remains untreated and undiagnosed. Hypertension or high blood pressure is a condition which is represented by a sustained increase in systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or more and a diastolic blood pressure of 90mmHg or more. The disease has been associated with various other health related complications.

Hypertension can be broadly classified into two groups. The first one is primary hypertension for which there are no underlying causes. The second type is secondary hypertension which is caused due to either endocrine or vascular disorders or kidney problems. In such cases, hypertension occurs as an aftermath of the diseases which have already been present in the system for a while.

Risks associated with hypertension are in fact considered to be more difficult to manage than the disease itself. Some of the most common complications could be potentially life threatening. These could include cardiovascular complications which might often result into terminal conditions like a cardiac arrest. Other risks might include a stroke, retinopathy and even a complete renal failure. Treatments are based on a couple of criteria. First is of course the level of the systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Second, is the percentage of cardiovascular risk.

Hypertension Management—Lifestyle Changes

Most often, doctors would be suggesting lifestyle changes for effective management and control of hypertension. Some of the most common measures to be adopted would include:

• Quitting smoking is one of the most essential step to undertake for managing high blood pressure. Fagging is known to enhance the risk of cardiovascular ailments as well.
• Alcohol intake should also be limited to a certain extent.
• Regular exercise, especially brisk walks should be incorporated into the daily routine. Moderate physical activity not only helps in managing hypertension but also maintains the normal functioning of the heart.
• Reduction in salt intake, especially in the raw form, is a must. Excess of sodium is known to aggravate hypertension.
• The daily diet should have a minimal of saturated as well as total. These should be supplemented with an increased intake of vegetables and fruits.
• Hypertension is a normal phenomenon in the obese. Therefore, excess weight needs to be reduced and stabilized for effective control and monitoring.

These are some of the most common measures to be undertaken for the effective control of high blood pressure over time.

Hypertension—Medicinal Therapy

Considering the fact that uncontrolled hypertension can wreak havoc, doctors would normally prescribe suitable medications along with the lifestyle changes. Some essential trends which are followed for drug therapy would include:

• If the elevation of the blood pressure is mild and the risk of cardiac ailments low, treatment will start with a low dose of a particular drug. Normally, a single tablet will be administered in the day. If the results are not positive, a full dose of the same medication could be recommended. Or else, the physician might wish to shift to an entirely new family of drugs for the desired outcomes.
• If the hypertension and associated cardiovascular risks are from moderate to high, a combination of a couple of low dosage drugs might be used.
• If the case is of simple hypertension without any apparent complications, the optimum levels of blood pressure are planned to be achieved gradually over time.
• In high risk hypertension however, the doctors will aim towards controlling the levels promptly through aggressive doses.

These are the predominant patterns through which medicinal therapy is implanted in various cases of hypertension.