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I HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE |
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How will the doctor treat my blood pressure?
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| Drug that lower blood pressure are also known as antihypertensives |
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Your doctor may recommend that you make changes to your lifestyle, such as changes to your diet and activity level, and may also prescribe drugs that are made to lower your blood pressure. These drugs are also called antihypertensive drugs or antihypertensive agents.
Your doctor may prescribe blood pressure lowering drugs almost immediately for several reasons.
- A blood pressure reading greater than 180/100 mm Hg.
- A blood pressure greater than 160/100 mmHg that persists over time.
- A blood pressure greater than 140/90 mmHg plus one or more of these:
- Diabetes
- Heart or kidney disease or stroke (also called target organ damage)\
- kidney disease, or stroke)
- A 10-year cardiovascular risk greater than 20%.
There are several different classes of antihypertensive, or blood pressure lowering, drugs, and your doctor will consider several different factors to select the d<rug and dose that is most appropriate for you. Remember, to lower your blood pressure, you must take the drugs as your doctor prescribes! Reducing your blood pressure is a partnership: between you and your doctor, and between lifestyle changes and blood pressure lowering drugs.
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