Treatments for Hypertension

Treatment list for Hypertension: The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Hypertension includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.

• Lifestyle changes
  • Lose weight - if overweight
  • Low-salt/low-sodium diet
  • DASH diet - Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension
  • Exercise
  • Avoid alcohol
  • Quit smoking
  • Low-caffeine diet - though the NHLBI reports that caffeine has usually only a temporary effect and need not be eradicated unless you are sensitive to it.
  • Low-fat diet
• Stress Management
  • Massage
  • Relaxation therapy
  • Biofeedback
• Anti-hypertensive medications
  • Diuretics - cause the body to excrete more sodium via urine.
    • Amiloride
    • Bendroflumethiazide
    • Benzthiazide
    • Bumetanide
    • Chlorothiazide
    • Chlorthalidone
    • Furosemide
    • Hydrochlorothiazide
    • Hydroflumethiazide
    • Indapamide
    • Methyclothiazide
    • Metolazone
    • Polythiazide
    • Spironolactone
    • Torsemide
    • Triamterene
    • Trichlormethiazide
  • Beta-blockers
    • Acebutolol atenolol
    • Betaxolol
    • Bisoprolol
    • Carteolol
    • Metoprolol
    • Nadolol
    • Penbutolol
    • Pindolol
    • Propranolol
    • Timolol
  • Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
    • Benazepril
    • Captopril
    • Enalapril
    • Fosinopril
    • Lisinopril
    • Moexipril
    • Quinapril
    • Ramipril
    • Trandolapril
  • Angiotensin antagonists
    • Losartan
    • Valsartan
  • Calcium channel blockers (CCBs)
    • Amlodipine
    • Diltiazam
    • Felodipine
    • Isradipine
    • Nicardipine
    • Nifedipine
    • Nisoldipine
    • Verapamil
  • Alpha blockers
    • Doxazosin
    • Prazosin
    • Terazosin
  • Alpha-beta blockers
    • Labetalol
    • Carvedilol
  • Nervous system inhibitors
    • Clonidine
    • Guanabenz
    • Guanadrel
    • Guanethidine
    • Guanfacine
    • Methyldopa
    • Reserpine
  • Vasodilators
    • Hydralazine
    • Minoxidil
• Home monitoring of blood pressure
  • Blood pressure diary - keeping a logbook is valuable.
  • Home blood pressure testing
• Potassium supplements - inconclusive results (NHLBI)
• Calcium supplements - inconclusive results (NHLBI)
• Magnesium supplements - inconclusive results (NHLBI)

Treatment of Hypertension: medical news summaries: The following medical news items are relevant to treatment of Hypertension:

• $80 million settlement won by consumers for overpriced blood pressure medication
• About Blackfan Diamond anemia
• Another injured party joins the Ontario Vioxx class action lawsuit
• Blood pressure and cholesterol drugs may greatly benefit some dementia sufferers
• Blood pressure lowering drugs may be effective against mental deterioration in Alzheimer’s patients
• Calcium intake by pregnant women reduces offspring’s risk of high blood pressure
• Calcium supplementation in pregnant women may have positive blood pressure consequences in offspring
• Class action suit to begin against Vioxx makers
• COX-2 inhibitors and heart attack risk
• Diabetics need to be more aware of benefits of aspirin
• Different hypertension drug therapy combinations pose different level of risk
• Diuretics are cheap and the benefits outweigh the risks
• Early cessation of steroid following liver transplant increases rate of rejection
• FDA warns consumers about dietary supplements that treat erectile dysfunction
• Folate intake linked to reduced risk of hypertension
• Heart disease patients may benefit from blood pressure medication
• Herbal dietary supplement promises treatment of many conditions
• High blood pressure drugs slow kidney damage in diabetics
• High blood pressure may be improved by meditation
• High blood pressure sufferers should be wary of decongestant use
• High folate intake may reduce high blood pressure
• Hypertension needs rapid attention
• Hypertension risk may be lowered by high folate intake
• Long term medications need to be carefully assessed to determine health benefits
• LVH may increase the risk of adverse events in hypertensive patients
• Meditation improves blood pressure even in children
• Men taking hypertension drugs can also safely use Viagra
• Migraines frequently misdiagnosed and underdiagnosed
• New beta blocker safer for treating high blood pressure in diabetics
• New blood pressure drugs overwhelmingly more effective than older drugs
• New Ephedra alternative aimed to promote weight loss
• New surgical treatment for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms saves lives
• Oral contraceptive use may increase risk of high blood pressure
• Performance of blood pressure drug being questioned
• Pollution effects minimized by blood-pressure drugs
• Proposed over the counter cholesterol drug still under doubt
• Single use anemia test available free of cost to people at risk of chronic kidney disease
• Sodium nitroprusside safety in children untested for high blood pressure
• Statins may benefit people at low risk of heart disease
• Study shows oral contraceptives taken before menopause may reduce risk of cancer and heart disease
• Symptoms of old age may be similar to many other treatable conditions
• Victims of partner violence at greater risk of long term health problems
• Vioxx tended not to be used by targeted group

Treatments of Hypertension discussion: Many people need medicine to control high blood pressure. A group of medications called ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors lower blood pressure and have an added protective effect on the kidney in people with diabetes. Additional studies have shown that ACE inhibitors also reduce proteinuria and slow the progression of kidney damage in people who do not have diabetes. You may need to take a combination of two or more blood pressure medicines to reach 125/75.¹

Limit Your Alcohol Use. If you drink alcohol, have no more than one drink per day. That means no more than 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1 1/2 ounces of hard liquor.²

Use Less Salt. Try seasoning foods instead with herbs, spices, and lemon juice. Keep in mind that sodium, an ingredient in salt, is "hidden" in many packaged and processed foods. Check product labels for the amount of sodium in each serving. Many experts advise a total daily salt intake of no more than 6 grams, which equals about 2,400 milligrams of sodium--this includes whatever is added during cooking and at the table. If you would like to try a salt substitute, talk with your doctor first, because they are not safe for everyone.²

Be Physically Active. Even low- to modeate-intensity activity, if done regularly, can help control and prevent high blood pressure. Examples of such exercise are walking for pleasure, gardening, yardwork, moderate-to-heavy housework, dancing, and home exercise. Try to do one or more of these activities every day.²

Lose Weight If You Are Overweight. Taking off excess pounds will help to control and prevent high blood pressure, and will lower your chances of developing cardiovascular disease in several other ways. Weight loss will help to prevent and control diabetes, and it can also lower blood cholesterol levels. Finally, since being overweight raises the chances of developing heart disease, losing weight can lower your risk.²

If you have mild HBP, your doctor may suggest that you lose weight and keep it off, eat less salt, cut down on alcohol, and get more exercise. You may bring your blood pressure down simply by following this advice. Even if medicine is needed, these daily habits may help it work better. ³

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from High Blood Pressure and Kidney Disease: NIDDK
2. excerpt from Heart Disease & Women Preventing & Controlling High Blood Pressure: NHLBI
3. excerpt from High Blood Pressure - Age Page - Health Information: NIA

Last revision: Nov 13, 2003

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