What Are the Treatments for High Blood Pressure

The good news about high blood pressure is that it is easily controllable. If your blood pressure is high, your physician will determine whether medication to lower your blood pressure is required. He may choose for you to make changes to your lifestyle before or during treatment with medication.

Lifestyle changes alone often effectively reduce blood pressure and may include:

• Losing weight, if necessary
• Following a heart-healthy diet
• Engaging in regular physical activity -- 30 minutes of walking or other aerobic activity a day
• Restricting the amount of sodium in your diet -- no more than 4 to 6 grams per day
• Limiting alcoholic beverages
• Quitting smoking

Several types of medications are available to treat high blood pressure. Medical treatment is often used in conjunction with lifestyle therapies. Some of the most commonly used medications to treat high blood pressure include:

• Diuretics
• Beta-blockers
• ACE (angiotensin-coverting enzyme) inhibitors
• Calcium channel blockers
• Alpha-beta blockers

These drugs may be used alone or in combination, depending on what your physician determines is best for your situation. If your physician orders medication, it is important that you take the medication exactly as prescribed and don't stop without his order. Suddenly stopping blood pressure medication can cause your blood pressure to rise rapidly.
If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is vital that your follow your physician's recommendations to the letter. Following your doctor's orders will help lower your blood pressure and your risk of cardiovascular disease. Discuss any questions you have with your physician -- it's imperative that you understand your treatment plan and its potential benefit to your life and health.