When the heart pumps blood into the arteries, the blood flows with a force pushing against the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure is the product of the flow of blood times the resistance in the blood vessels. High blood pressure is also called hypertension.
How to Treat High Blood Pressure
How to Treat High Blood Pressure - The goal of treatment for most patients is to lower the systolic blood pressure below 140 mm Hg and the diastolic blood pressure below 90 mm Hg. In some patients, such as those with diabetes, it is recommended that blood pressure be lowered even further, to a systolic pressure below 130 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure below 85 mm Hg.
How to Treat High Blood Pressure with Folic Acid- Folic acid, found in green leafy vegetables and many enriched food products, reduces homocysteine levels in the blood. Homocysteine is a risk factor for heart disease and higher levels leave you at higher risk for heart problems. By consuming 400 micrograms a day, you can reduce your chance of high blood pressure by 40%.
How to Treat High Blood Pressure - Treating high blood pressure may require lots of time, patience and care by both doctor and patient. It may be annoying to take pills and possibly have side effects, especially if you felt fine before treatment. Don’t be discouraged if you must be treated indefinitely. Some people can reduce their drug dosages after achieving normal blood pressure and maintaining it for a year or more. (You usually can’t stop treatment entirely.) Coping with the inconvenience of medication is still much better than suffering a stroke or heart attack. Most people who are treated successfully live a long and healthy life.
How to Treat High Blood Pressure - Treatment begins with changes you can make in your lifestyle to help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease (see the box below). These things alone may work. If these changes don’t work, you may also need to take medicine.
You should team with your healthcare professional to create a plan to help you manage
your blood pressure goal. Also, always keep in mind that lifestyle changes and medication are important, as well.
How to Treat High Blood Pressure - Calcium-channel blockers
These drugs affect the way calcium is used in the blood vessels and heart muscle. This has a relaxing effect on the blood vessels. Again, there are various types and brands. For example, amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine, isradipine, lacidipine, lercanidipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, nisoldipine, and verapamil. Calcium-channel blockers can also be used to treat angina.
How to Treat High Blood Pressure - Beta-blockers (eg atenolol) - these drugs reduce the work your heart has to do, by reducing your pulse rate at times when it may beat too forcefully such as during exercise or when you are feeling stressed.
In a meta-analysis of seven randomized controlled trials of garlic supplements, three trials showed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and four in diastolic blood pressure. Researchers concluded that garlic powder supplement may be of clinical use in patients with mild high blood pressure.
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