High blood pressure (Hyperten... Health Article
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Symptoms
Most of the time, there are no symptoms. Symptoms that may occur include: If you have a severe headache or any of the symptoms above, see your doctor right away. This may be a signs of a complication or dangerously high blood pressure called malignant hypertension.
Signs and tests
Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and check your blood pressure. If the measurement is high, your doctor may think you have high blood pressure. The measurements need to be repeated over time, so that the diagnosis can be confirmed. If you monitor your blood pressure at home, you may be asked the following questions: Other tests may be done to look for blood in urine or heart failure. Your doctor will look for signs of complications to your heart, kidneys, eyes, and other organs in your body. These tests may include:
Treatment
The goal of treatment is to reduce blood pressure so that you have a lower risk of complications. There are many different medicines that can be used to treat high blood pressure. Such medicines include: Medicines used if the blood pressure is very high may include: Your doctor may also tell you to exercise, lose weight, and follow a healthier diet. If you have pre-hypertension, your doctor will recommend the same lifestyle changes to bring your blood pressure down to normal range.
Expectations (prognosis)
Most of the time, high blood pressure can be controlled with medicine and lifestyle changes.
Complications
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Reviewer Info: Larry A. Weinrauch, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Private practice specializing in Cardiovascular Disease,Watertown, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.; ADAM Health Illustrated Encyclopedia, 06/04/2007 |
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