Treatment for hypertension (raised blood pressure) includes lifestyle changes and, for some people, medication. Also monitor your blood pressure at regular intervals.

“When it comes to treating hypertension, drugs are not the only way,” says Dr Mike Mead. “There’s so much you can do to lower raised blood pressure yourself.”

Treatment depends on how high your blood pressure is and your risk of cardiovascular disease (which affects the heart and circulatory system).

For example, if you have slightly raised blood pressure and your doctor feels your risk of cardiovascular disease is low, you should be able to keep your blood pressure under control by making healthy changes to your lifestyle. 

A reduction of five points in your diastolic blood pressure (from 90 to 85, for instance) will reduce your chances of having a stroke by 34% and of developing heart disease by 20%

Keep healthy
The most important advice is to reduce the amount of salt and saturated fat in your diet and to lose weight if you’re overweight. Everyone needs to get regular exercise, eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and limit their alcohol intake.

It’s recommended that men drink no more than three to four units of alcohol a day, and women no more than two to three units a day. One pint of strong lager or one large glass of wine can contain up to three units.  

If you have hypertension and you smoke, you have a higher risk of heart attack than someone with hypertension who doesn’t smoke.

You will be diagnosed with hypertension if your blood pressure is consistently 140/90 or higher. The first number is your systolic pressure (when your heart beats to push blood around your body) and the second number is diastolic (when your heart is resting). A healthy blood pressure is 120/80 or less.

Medication
If your blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, you may need to take medication to lower it, in addition to making healthy changes to your diet and activity levels.

Even a relatively low drop in blood pressure can have significant health benefits. For example, a reduction of five points in your diastolic blood pressure (from 90 to 85, for instance) will reduce your chances of having a stroke by 34% and of developing heart disease by 20%.

Several medicines can be used to treat hypertension. Your doctor may prescribe a combination of different medicines. Many people taking hypertension medication need to take it for the rest of their lives, but it may be possible to stop taking it if blood pressure remains under control for a number of years.

Commonly used medications include:

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. These help reduce the amount of water in the blood and widen the arteries. 
• Calcium channel blockers. These help to widen arteries. 
• Thiazide diuretics. These reduce the amount of water in the blood, which decreases the volume of blood the heart has to pump around the body. They also widen the arteries. 
• Beta-blockers. These slow the heart rate and reduce the force of the heart. They are usually used if other medicines are unsuccessful. 

These medications are not suitable for everyone and can have side effects. Your doctor can advise you further.

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