Outline the usual steps in the medical treatment of hypertension?

Answer 1

Hypertension can be a symptom of other underlying disease, so doctors try to rule out other causes before deciding on treatment. Some of the common underlying causes are obesity, high stress, Heart disease. They have several avenues of treatment: Changing lifestyle: Changes in diet, adding exercise, and reducing the intake of sugary and highly salted foods may be helpful. For a highly stressed person, this might include counseling, drugs to reduce anxiety, or even a recommendation to change occupations or schedules. Decreasing fluid load: use of diuretics to decrease the amount of excess fluid. One symptom of this would be edema, or swelling of hands, feet, legs, and in the most severe cases, other parts of the body. Medications: There are ACE inhibitors, Beta Blockers, and a large number of other drugs that can treat hypertension in different ways, depending on the symptoms and other medical conditions. Your doctor will probably track your blood pressure over time to see if it is an acute (immediate) problem or a chronic one, then use the most conservative treatment possible to get your pressure under control. All drugs have side effects, so you may have to try a couple to find one that works best for you. If you have been told your blood pressure is a little high, or have taken your own at one of those machines in the supermarket and it was high, it's time to have it checked. Hypertension is a very manageable condition, especially when it is diagnosed early. If you have a family history of high blood pressure, be sure to share that information with your doctor. Controlling your blood pressure can significantly decrease your chance of stroke and heart attack - an easy way to ensure your quality of life as you age.

Answer 2

Diuretics or "water pills" (thiazide, hydroclorathyazide, chlorathalidone and indapamide) increase the elimination of salt and water through urination, thereby lessening blood volume and pressure.

Beta-blockers (such as propranolol, atenolol, nadolol, pindolol and labetolol) lower blood pressure by reducing the amount of blood pumped by the heart.

If this first line of treatment is ineffective or the patient has other medical conditions, other types of medications which may be used:

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors(captopril, enalapril and lisinopril) lower blood pressure by blocking the production of a hormone known as angiotensin, which increases blood pressure.

Calcium-channel blockers (nifedipine, nicardipine, verapamil and diltiazem) relax blood-vessel walls, thereby lowering pressure.

Vasodilators (hydralazine and minoxidil) relax the smooth muscle of the peripheral arteries, which causes them to dilate and so reduce the resistance to blood flow.

Centrally acting drugs (clonidine and guanabenz) block the transmission of nerve impulses with the autonomic nervous system, which controls the involuntary action of the heart and blood vessels among other organs.