Hypertension, high blood pressure (part 2)

Treatment

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Things you can do

• Healthy diet

• Regular exercise

• Reduce salt

• Lose weight

• Stop smoking

Things your family doctor can do

• Check there is no signs of organ damage caused by the hypertension

  • Urine sample looking for protein and blood in urine (kidneys are filters, if they are working properly, there should not be protein in you urine)

  • Blood tests - check kidney function, sugar levels (diabetes can also increase your risk), cholesterol (high cholesterol adds to risk of heart attack or stroke), thyroid function (underactive thyroid can lead to raised cholesterol)

  • Electrocardiograph (ECG) - this takes a trace of your hearts electrical activity - hypertension can cause strain on the heart and signs of this can sometimes be seen on an ECG

• Medication

  • there are a range of medications that can be used for hypertension

  • they may be changed if you have side effects

Things others can help you do

• Dietician may be helpful to advise on your diet and changes which could help

• Hospital referral - some people have an underlying cause for their hypertension, this is more likely if the age at diagnosis is under 40years old. One such cause is kidney disease

Disclaimer: All my posts aim to provide general health information and are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for personal health concerns.