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How
is hypertension treated?
Although you may think that it is bad news if
you have been diagnosed with hypertension, there
is good news. Effective treatment is available.
The main goal of treatment is to bring hypertension
under control quickly and permanently. Compliance
with therapy and following your doctor's directions
are essential.
But
in order to bring hypertension under control,
lifestyle changes (such as eating right, maintaining
the correct weight, and quitting smoking) are
necessary. You may also have to take some antihypertensive
medication to help control your hypertension.
And you must take your medication exactly the
way your doctor tells you to.
For
some people, lifestyle changes are not enough
to reduce blood pressure to normal levels. But
there is help for these people too. Through medical
research, a variety of medications have been developed
that effectively reduce hypertension.
Since
no two people are exactly alike, antihypertensive
therapy is different for each person. Your doctor
will prescribe medication based on your medical
condition.
Antihypertensive
medications fall into one of several major categories:
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>
Diuretics
> Beta Blockers
> Alpha
Blockers
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>
Calcium - Channel Blockers
> Angiotensin
Converting Enzyme
(ACE) Inhibitors
> Angiotensin
II (A II) Antagonists |
How important is treatment
compliance?
According to a study completed in 1993, about
40 to 50 percent of people with hypertension is
continue their medications within six months of
starting therapy. Not following your doctor's
orders closely may lead to serious hypertension-related
complications. These include progression of coronary
atherosclerosis, congestive heart failure, and
kidney disease. In addition, poor compliance can
increase your chance of being admitted to the
hospital for hypertensive crises, which happen
when blood pressure is dangerously high. As you
can see, it is extremely important that you follow
your doctor's directions with care. Even though
you may not feel or have any symptoms due to hypertension,
it is important that you take our medication.
If you experience any side effects, tell your
doctor. Good communication between the two of
you is key to choosing the right antihypertensive
medication (or combination of medications) to
lower your blood pressure while keeping side effects
to a minimum.
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