Hypertension refers to high blood pressure. It is a very common disease and an important risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease (blockages in arteries supplying blood to the heart), heart failure (weakness of heart), renal failure, and stroke. Therefore, it must be controlled aggressively.
More than 95 percent of patients with hypertension do not have an underlying cause; hence, this hypertension is called essential hypertension. However, a small number may have an underlying cause, which may be completely treatable. This is usually the case when hypertension begins between the ages of 25 to 50 years.
The management is multi-factorial. A healthy diet and regular exercise are important pillars of treatment. Medicines constitute the third tier, and patients differ in their response to different medicines, and also in the requirement of the number of medicines. There are many classes of medicines available for the treatment of hypertension. Foremost among them are calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (or ACE inhibitors), diuretics, alpha-receptor blockers, beta-receptor blockers, and centrally acting drugs. The choice of medicine is usually according to age, other risk factors present, and the potential side-effects.
Observational studies have shown that the most important risk of developing hypertension is obesity. Therefore, it is extremely important to maintain a healthy lifestyle with diet and exercise, and to control weight.
More than 95 percent of patients with hypertension do not have an underlying cause; hence, this hypertension is called essential hypertension. However, a small number may have an underlying cause, which may be completely treatable. This is usually the case when hypertension begins between the ages of 25 to 50 years.
The management is multi-factorial. A healthy diet and regular exercise are important pillars of treatment. Medicines constitute the third tier, and patients differ in their response to different medicines, and also in the requirement of the number of medicines. There are many classes of medicines available for the treatment of hypertension. Foremost among them are calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (or ACE inhibitors), diuretics, alpha-receptor blockers, beta-receptor blockers, and centrally acting drugs. The choice of medicine is usually according to age, other risk factors present, and the potential side-effects.
Observational studies have shown that the most important risk of developing hypertension is obesity. Therefore, it is extremely important to maintain a healthy lifestyle with diet and exercise, and to control weight.