Do you have high blood pressure?
Find out more about high blood pressure diagnosis and treatments

Blood pressure, also known as hypertension, occurs when your blood moves through your arteries at a higher pressure than normal. Blood pressure is a measurement with one number over another number, such as 140/80. The first number is called the systolic blood pressure, which is the peak blood pressure when your heart is squeezing blood out. The second number, the diastolic blood pressure, is the pressure of your blood while your heart is filling with blood, or relaxing between heartbeats. A normal blood pressure is typically defined as 120/80 or lower. High blood pressure is officially defined as 140/90 or higher, although if your blood pressure is between 120/80 and 140/90, you are diagnosed with pre-hypertension, which means you’re at risk for getting high blood pressure in the future.
High blood pressure is diagnosed through a simple blood pressure test: the medical professional puts a blood pressure cuff around your arm, inflates the cuff, and listens for the flow of blood.
Problems associated with high blood pressure
It is essential to diagnose and treat high blood pressure as early as possible. High blood pressure damages your blood vessels and increases your risk of getting heart disease, stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure. High blood pressure usually doesn’t have any symptoms, so it’s essential to check blood pressure regularly.
Blood pressure treatment
Treatment consists of a variety of options, including personal lifestyle changes on your part. Medication can help, but usually only in conjunction with key lifestyle changes. Typical lifestyle changes include quitting smoking and other tobacco products, losing weight if you’re overweight, exercising regularly, limiting your caffeine, sodium, and alcohol intake, and eating a healthy diet low in fat and high in fiber, fruits, and vegetables.
Medication
There are many antihypertensive medicines available to treat high blood pressure. The following are a few of the more common antihypertensive drugs available on the market:
1. Beta-blockers – this helps block effects of adrenaline (which include increased heartbeat, etc)
2. Alpha-blockers – this keeps your blood vessels open
3. Calcium channel blockers – this keeps your blood vessels from constricting by blocking calcium from entering your cells
4. ACE inhibitors – this blocks your body from making angiotensin II, which constricts blood vessels
5. Diuretics – This helps get rid of extra sodium and fluid so blood vessels won’t need to hold as much fluid
Drug combinations
Keep in mind that different drugs can produce different effects in people. Symptoms of antihypertensive drugs include dizziness, lowered levels of potassium, problems sleeping, drowsiness, dry mouth, bloating, constipation, and depression. If one medicine does not work for you, talk to your family doctor about other options.