For patients with mild HBP, a doctor may suggest cutting risk factors: losing weight and keeping it off, avoiding tobacco smoke, eating less salt, cutting down on alcohol, and getting regular exercise. Blood pressure may drop simply by following this advice. Even if medicine is needed, these lifestyle recommendations are critical for optimal health.
Some people think that when their blood pressure comes down, they no longer need treatment. However, if a doctor has prescribed medicine, it may need to be taken for rest of the patient’s life. Because hypertension is a progressive condition, most patients will usually require more than one medicine to achieve/maintain control of their pressure. Some individuals may be able to decrease their use of medication if they achieve a significant reduction in BP with therapeutic lifestyle changes.
Which medication(s) are commonly used in the management of HBP?
There are several classes of antihypertensive drugs and each class contains multiple drugs. The JNC-7 recommends that thiazide-type diuretics are beneficial first-line drugs for most patients with hypertension. Patients with HBP and certain other diseases may benefit from other classes of medications. However, treatment needs to be individualized and should be done in conjunction with a physician.
