Diagnostic/ Tests
To measure blood pressure, a doctor or a specialist will usually place an inflatable arm cuff around the arm and measure a person's blood pressure using a pressure-measuring gauge.
A blood pressure reading, given in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), has two numbers. The first, or upper, number measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats (systolic pressure). The second, or lower, number measures the pressure in your arteries between beats (diastolic pressure).
Blood pressure measurements fall into four general categories:
To measure blood pressure, a doctor or a specialist will usually place an inflatable arm cuff around the arm and measure a person's blood pressure using a pressure-measuring gauge.
A blood pressure reading, given in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), has two numbers. The first, or upper, number measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats (systolic pressure). The second, or lower, number measures the pressure in your arteries between beats (diastolic pressure).
Blood pressure measurements fall into four general categories:
- Normal blood pressure. Your blood pressure is normal if it's below 120/80 mm Hg.
- Prehypertension. Prehypertension is a systolic pressure ranging from 120 to 139 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure ranging from 80 to 89 mm Hg. Prehypertension tends to get worse over time.
- Stage 1 hypertension. Stage 1 hypertension is a systolic pressure ranging from 140 to 159 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure ranging from 90 to 99 mm Hg.
- Stage 2 hypertension. More severe hypertension, stage 2 hypertension is a systolic pressure of 160 mm Hg or higher or a diastolic pressure of 100 mm Hg or higher.
Treatment
Medications to treat high blood pressure
Mayo Clinic (n.d). High blood pressure (hypertension) Treatments and drugs. Retrieved April 12, 2017, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/basics/treatment/con-20019580
- High blood pressure, or hypertension, is when your blood pressure is 140/90 and above.
- Treatment usually involves lifestyle changes, including diet, exercise, and weight loss. Sometimes, medications are also necessary.
- There are many medications to treat high blood pressure. Your doctor can recommend the best ones for you
Medications to treat high blood pressure
- Thiazide diuretics. Diuretics, sometimes called water pills, are medications that act on your kidneys to help your body eliminate sodium and water, reducing blood volume.
- Beta blockers. These medications reduce the workload on your heart and open your blood vessels, causing your heart to beat slower and with less force.
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. These medications help relax blood vessels by blocking the formation of a natural chemical that narrows blood vessels.
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). These medications help relax blood vessels by blocking the action, not the formation, of a natural chemical that narrows blood vessels.
- Calcium channel blockers. These medications help relax the muscles of your blood vessels. Some slow your heart rate.
Treatment for high blood pressure typically involves a combination of medication and lifestyle changes to help control the condition and prevent or delay related health problems. The goal is to get blood pressure below the high range.
Mayo Clinic (n.d). High blood pressure (hypertension) Treatments and drugs. Retrieved April 12, 2017, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/basics/treatment/con-20019580