| At one point, Doctors hesitated to | | | | side effect to the patient and protect |
| prescribe medication for patients with a | | | | against possible further complications |
| blood pressure reading of less than 159 | | | | down the line. |
| 99 Hg. This was described as "mild | | | | On of the most important aspects of |
| hypertension" and as such not deemed at | | | | where treatment differs nowadays is that |
| the time to be dangerous. | | | | Doctors can quite possibly provide one |
| The rationale behind this that Doctors | | | | single course of medication that can |
| felt that the adverse side effects of | | | | treat conditions like Hypertension and |
| the medication used at the time would | | | | accompanying medical problems like |
| possibly be of more danger to the | | | | congestive Heart Failure. |
| patient than the high blood pressure | | | | The generally accepted initial approach |
| readings. | | | | to Hypertension Treatment nowadays is to |
| Times have changed however and this line | | | | start slow & low and then build |
| of thinking is no longer in use. Both of | | | | gradually where possible gradually |
| the above perceptions relating to the | | | | increasing the dosage of the medicine |
| danger of the side effects and the mild | | | | prescribed until the blood pressure |
| nature of the blood pressure readings | | | | level sinks to a normal level. If this |
| have lead to the discontinuance of this | | | | is not shown to work or causes |
| practice. | | | | troublesome side effects then a wide |
| Recent research has firmly established | | | | number of replacement medications are |
| the value of treating "stage 1 | | | | available for use. |
| Hypertension" (a reading of between 140 | | | | The presently accepted course of |
| 90 - 159/99 Hg) with medication if | | | | treatment for Stage 1 Hypertension is to |
| necessary. It is now also considered | | | | start with one drug and add a second if |
| prudent to treat patients who also | | | | the blood pressure reading does not |
| suffer from Diabetes and High Blood | | | | respond or decrease to normal levels. |
| Pressure if their readings are as low as | | | | The target levels here are 140/90 Hg. |
| 130/80 Hg. The sensitivity of medication | | | | For those with diabetes or chronic |
| nowadays is such that blood pressure | | | | kidney disease then the ideal targets |
| levels can be controlled with much lower | | | | are reduced to 130/80 Hg. For "Stage 2 |
| dosages meaning that the danger of side | | | | Hypertension" (the old levels of |
| effects can also be reduced. | | | | conventional High Blood Pressure) then |
| There has never been a greater variety | | | | the accepted treatment programme is to |
| of medication for High Blood Pressure | | | | start with at least 2 drugs. Again if |
| available to Doctors from which to | | | | the response to this is not within an |
| choose. These "antihypertensive drugs" | | | | acceptable timeframe then the |
| also include many types of medication | | | | introduction of a third drug may occur. |
| where there is a combination of several | | | | Just when you think that Hypertension |
| different types of drug. The newer types | | | | can be controlled with purely |
| of medication quite often have a | | | | medication. There is a marked |
| different chemical makeup and structure | | | | improvement to all of these programmes |
| compared to the older ones but quite | | | | when the medication is accompanied by |
| often produce nearly identical effects | | | | the introduction and implementation of |
| on the human body. | | | | lifestyle changes such as a well |
| The range and sophistication of | | | | balanced diet, reduction in the |
| medication is such now that Doctors can | | | | consumption of alcohol, increased |
| produce care plans and treatment | | | | exercise and a complete cessation of |
| programmes tailored to the individual | | | | smoking. |
| patient and in most cases prescribe | | | | 'Nuff said really. |
| medication that have little or minimal | | | | |