All Hypertension Articles

Patients with high blood pressure who took a diuretic and a potassium-sparing drug, reduced cardiac mortality by 40 percent, U.S. researchers said. The current U.S. hypertension treatment guidelines recommend using a thiazide diuretic -- a drug that increases the volume of urine -- alone as the initial drug therapy for high blood pressure, senior author Dr. John Oates said. The Read more...

(PPHN) by Diana KohnleDefinitionPersistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) of the newborn is a relatively rare, yet potentially very serious condition. It can cause both immediate and long-term complications and health concerns. PPHN affects approximately one in every 500-1500 births.When a baby is in the womb, the oxygen is supplied through the umbilical cord. After birth, the baby's system should Read more...

(Essential Hypertension)Controlling Your High Blood PressureDefinition High blood pressure is abnormally high blood pressure with no known cause. Blood pressure measurements are read as two numbers. The higher number is called the systolic pressure. The lower number is called the diastolic pressure. Normal systolic pressure is 120 or less, and normal diastolic blood pressure is 80 or less. High Read more...

by Amy Scholten, MPH Fifty million adults in the United States have hypertension (high blood pressure), a condition associated with an increased risk of death and disability from heart disease , stroke , congestive heart failure , and end-stage renal disease. For most people, high blood pressure is marked by a systolic blood pressure (higher number) at or above 140 mmHg or diastolic blood Read more...

As told to Jennifer Hellwig, MS, RD Ellen is a 59-year-old medical technician from Massachusetts. She has been managing hypertension for nine years. What was your first sign that something was wrong? What symptoms did you experience? I’ve never had any symptoms of high blood pressure. But I’ve always been very prudent about getting regular medical checkups and having my blood pressure Read more...

by Karen Schroeder, MS, RD On May 29, 2002, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new drug for the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure). Benicar (olmesartan medoxomil) is an angiotensin II receptor blocker that has significantly lowered both systolic and diastolic levels (the two values that make up a blood pressure reading) in clinical studies. Angiotensin II is a Read more...

by Debra Wood, RNMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Hypertension | Resource Guide To help reduce your risk of developing hypertension, follow these guidelines: If you are overweight, lose weight.Avoid heavy alcohol use.If you smoke, quit.Eat a heart-healthy diet , which includes: DASH diet (Dietary Read more...

by Debra Wood, RNMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Hypertension | Resource GuideThe goal of treating hypertension is to reduce blood pressure to within the normal range and maintain it there while keeping any adverse effects of medical treatment to a minimum. The main goal is to avoid and reduce the Read more...

by Debra Wood, RNMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Hypertension | Resource GuideYou have a unique medical history. Therefore, it is essential to talk with your doctor or healthcare provider about your personal risk factors and/or experience with hypertension. By talking openly and regularly with Read more...

by Debra Wood, RNMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Hypertension | Resource GuideHigh blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms, and this is why it may go undiagnosed if unchecked. Your organs and tissues can be damaged by high blood pressure without feeling any symptoms. Occasionally, if blood Read more...

by Debra Wood, RNMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Hypertension | Resource GuideThe purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.Screening TestsBlood Read more...

by Debra Wood, RNMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Hypertension | Resource GuideA risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.It is possible to develop hypertension with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk factors you have, Read more...

by Debra Wood, RNMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Hypertension | Resource GuideAmerican Heart AssociationAddress:7272 Greenville AvenueDallas, TX 75231Phone:1-800-AHA-USA-1 (1-800-242-8721)Internet Address:http://www.americanheart.org/Description of services provided:The American Heart Association Read more...

by Debra Wood, RNMain Page | Risk Factors | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Screening | Reducing Your Risk | Talking to Your Doctor | Living With Hypertension | Resource Guide High blood pressure is often diagnosed during a visit to your healthcare provider. Blood pressure is measured using a cuff around your arm and a device called a sphygmomanometer. Your healthcare provider may ask you to Read more...

by Karen Schroeder, MS, RD DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, which is the name of the research study that looked at the effects of eating patterns on blood pressure. From this study came the DASH diet—a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods, and low in saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol. This diet was shown to significantly reduce blood Read more...

by Jill Shuman, MS, RD, ELS Controversy continues to churn as to whether reducing your salt intake will help to keep your blood pressure in check. In fact, some experts even say that low-salt diets may be detrimental to your health. Who do you believe? In May 1996, two leading medical journals reported vastly different conclusions about whether or not people with normal blood pressure should Read more...

(Toxemia of Pregnancy, Pregnancy-induced Hypertension)Pronounced: pre-ee-clamp'-see-ah by Diane SavitskyDefinitionPre-eclampsia is a problem that occurs in some women during pregnancy. Blood pressure increases and protein appears in the urine. This usually occurs during the second half of pregnancy and in 5%-8% of pregnancies. Your healthcare provider will look for the following signs: high blood Read more...

by Karen Schroeder, MS, RD Here's Why: Sodium intake may be a primary factor in the development of high blood pressure (hypertension), which is a major risk factor for heart attack. Hypertension (a “systolic” blood pressure above 140 and/or a “diastolic” pressure above 90) will develop in nearly everyone who lives into their 80’s, and in many people it occurs long before this age. Read more...

by Maria Adams, MS, MPH, RD What Is Sodium?Sodium is a mineral found in many foods. We need sodium for important bodily functions such as muscle contraction and water balance. However most of us get too much sodium, which can cause health problems. On a two gram (2,000 milligrams) sodium diet you will be limiting the amount of high sodium foods that you eat.Why Limit Sodium Intake? Read more...

by Alia Bucciarelli, MSEn Español (Spanish Version) Definition Renovascular hypertension is high blood pressure that is caused by narrowing (stenosis) of one or both of the arteries, called the renal arteries, that supply blood to the kidneys. Narrowing of the renal arteries reduces blood flow to the kidneys. This is a potentially serious condition that Read more...