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