Your doctor may ask you to test it again when you are home. How is it diagnosed?ĭuring a routine visit, your doctor will measure your blood pressure. Very high blood pressure (such as 180/120 or higher) can cause severe headaches and vision problems. Most people don't know they have it until they go to the doctor for some other reason. High blood pressure doesn't usually cause symptoms. These include aging, drinking too much alcohol, eating a lot of sodium (salt), being overweight, and not exercising. But they know that some things are linked to it. What causes it?Įxperts don't fully understand the exact cause of high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other problems. High blood pressure (hypertension) means that the top number stays high, or the bottom number stays high, or both. Your doctor will give you a goal for your blood pressure based on your health and your age. It shows how hard the blood pushes between heartbeats, when your heart is relaxed and filling with blood. The second number is the diastolic pressure (bottom number). It shows how hard the blood pushes when your heart is pumping. The first number is the systolic pressure (top number). Two numbers tell you your blood pressure. Another name for high blood pressure is hypertension. But if it stays up, you have high blood pressure. It's normal for blood pressure to go up and down throughout the day. In the meantime, experts encourage providers to discuss this treatment option with patients, especially with patients that struggle with side effects and complications.Condition Basics What is high blood pressure?īlood pressure is a measure of how hard the blood pushes against the walls of your arteries. However, authors note that additional research is needed to better understand which patients stand to benefit most from this treatment strategy. For patients with poor blood pressure control, it’s possible that using a combination of low-dose medications may serve as a useful alternative to standard treatment. Many patients with high blood pressure are already taking medication but don’t have their condition under control. However, authors also note that taking one or two low-dose medications was not as effective in lowering blood pressure when compared to taking a single, full dose.įindings are promising, as effectively treating patients with high blood pressure remains a challenge. Low-dose medications did not appear to increase risk for adverse events compared to the placebo drug and adverse events were significantly less common compared to the standard dose. For example, participants taking two low-dose medications had an average blood pressure reduction of 6.7/4.4 mmHg, while those taking four drugs had an average blood pressure reduction of 22.4/13.1 mmHg. However, the more types of low-dose medication participants took, the larger the average blood pressure reduction was. Study participants were assigned to varying treatments, ranging from a placebo with no active medication to a low-dose (one-quarter of the standard prescribed dose) or standard full-dose of medication.Īfter an average of seven weeks, researchers found that a single low-dose medication resulted in a significant reduction in blood pressure compared to the inactive placebo. Studies tested multiple combinations of medications, including calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and thiazide diuretics, all of which are commonly used to treat hypertension. It’s likely that better medication adherence would improve blood pressure management and outcomes.Ī total of 42 clinical trials were included in the analysis, which included 20,284 adults with high blood pressure. While one in three American adults has high blood pressure, only half of patients with high blood pressure have their condition under control. Minimizing side effects is especially important for patients with high blood pressure, since high blood pressure requires long-term treatment and medication adherence. The goal was to see whether prescribing lower doses helps maximize benefits and minimize side effects of blood pressure drugs. Published in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension, this study analyzed all available evidence on low-dose blood pressure medication. Combining several low doses of blood pressure drugs may be preferable for some patients with hypertension (high blood pressure), based on a recent study that links low-dose blood pressure medications to fewer side effects and complications.
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