Why are high blood pressure medicines prescribed?
Normal blood pressure ranges up to 120/80 (“120 over 80”). Pre-high blood pressure (prehypertension) is from 120/80 to 139/90. If repeated checks of your blood pressure show that it is higher than 140/90, you have high blood pressure. Over time, high blood pressure can damage the blood vessels and vital organs. This can lead to strokes, heart disease, and kidney disease. Treating high blood pressure decreases your chances of having heart problems. Weight loss, changes in your diet, and exercise may be the only treatment you need. If these lifestyle changes do not lower your blood pressure enough, your healthcare provider may prescribe medicine. Several kinds of medicines are used to treat high blood pressure. The medicines may be effective alone, or they may be used with other drugs.
Related Questions
- Is it dangerous to take herbal medicines with some of the commonly prescribed preventive medications (e.g., Pamelor, Corgard, Depakote, or Prozac)?
- Is the treatment safe if there is already on-going medical treatment or in conjunction with prescribed medicines?
- Can we use vitamin supplements along with normal prescribed medicines?
