How is High Blood Pressure Treated? (2024)

FAQs

How is High Blood Pressure Treated? ›

Water pills (diuretics).

There are several common high blood pressure medicines your provider can prescribe: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors keep your blood vessels from narrowing as much. Angiotensin II receptor blockers also keep blood vessels from narrowing.

Several types of medicine can be used to help control high blood pressure. Many people need to take a combination of different medicines. You may need to take blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.

While there is no cure for high blood pressure, it is important for patients to take steps that matter, such as making effective lifestyle changes and taking BP-lowering medications as prescribed by their physicians.

Hypertensive emergency: A provider will admit you to a hospital's intensive care unit for treatment. In the hospital, a provider will monitor your blood pressure and give you IV medicines. Hypertensive urgency: A provider will give you medicine that you swallow to lower your blood pressure.

And does dehydration cause high blood pressure? Drinking water can help normalize your blood pressure but doesn't necessarily lower your blood pressure unless you are dehydrated. Because your blood is made up of 90% water, the overall volume will decrease when you are dehydrated.

Normal pressure is 120/80 or lower. Your blood pressure is considered high (stage 1) if it reads 130 to 139 mmHg/80 to 89 mmHg. Stage 2 high blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. If you get a blood pressure reading of 180/120 or higher more than once, seek medical treatment right away.

Moderate or severe headaches, anxiety, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, palpitations, or feeling of pulsations in the neck are some signs of high blood pressure. Often, these are late signs that high blood pressure has existed for some time, therefore annual checks are recommended for all adults.

Call 911 or emergency medical services if your blood pressure is 180/120 mm Hg or greater and you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or symptoms of stroke. Stroke symptoms include numbness or tingling, trouble speaking, or changes in vision.

What drink lowers BP fast? ›

The top drinks for lowering blood pressure include water, fruit juices (pomegranate, prune, cranberry, cherry), vegetable juice (tomato, raw beet), tea (black, green), and skim milk.

With that being said, research³ does show that although you can live a long life, it may be five to seven years shorter than those without high blood pressure. Some potential causes⁴ of this shorter life expectancy include smoking and obesity.

The Bottom Line. Bananas are a nutritious and tasty option for helping lower blood pressure. Loaded with essential nutrients like potassium, fiber and vitamin C, bananas offer several benefits for cardiovascular health. Their potassium content counterbalances sodium intake, promoting blood vessel relaxation.

The European Society of Cardiology²¹ recommends that people lay down and take naps during midday to help lower their pressure levels. Additionally, the American College of Cardiology claims that the average systolic blood pressure drops by about 3 mm Hg²² for each hour one lays down for a nap.

What causes high blood pressure? High blood pressure usually develops over time. It can happen because of unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as not getting enough regular physical activity. Certain health conditions, such as diabetes and having obesity, can also increase the risk for developing high blood pressure.

During the acute event, IV hydralazine or oral nifedipine can be used to lower blood pressure. Patients with a hypertensive emergency need admission with continuous blood pressure monitoring.

Specifically, the most commonly prescribed blood pressure medications are the ACE inhibitor lisinopril (Prinivil and Zestril), the DHP calcium channel blocker amlodipine (Norvasc), the beta-blocker metoprolol (Lopressor), and the thiazide diuretic hydrochlorothiazide.

If your blood pressure remains equal to or higher than 130/80 but lower than 140/90 mm Hg, your provider may recommend medicines to treat high blood pressure. If you have other diseases or risk factors, your provider may be more likely to recommend medicines at the same time as lifestyle changes.

The Symplicity™ Spyral procedure delivers radiofrequency energy to nerves near the kidneys that can become overactive and contribute to high blood pressure.