Treating Hypertension

Why treat hypertension if it is not causing any symptoms?

Despite the fact that hypertension often does not cause any symptoms, it can result in damage to the heart, kidneys, eyes, blood vessels, brain and lungs, and may lead to a heart attack or stroke. Guidelines for treatment of blood pressure are based on studies showing increased heart attacks, strokes and organ damage when blood pressures in the population have been allowed to remain above specific measurements.

What is the number one problem seen when treating hypertension?

Because there are no symptoms with hypertension, patients often fail to realize how important treatment is and do not take their medication regularly. It is important to be consistent with medication treatment.

What blood pressure should a person try to maintain?

• in general one should try to maintain a blood pressure that is less than 140/90
• people with diabetes or kidney disease should try to maintain a pressure less than 130/80
• people with kidney disease and protein in their urine should try to maintain a pressure less than 125/75

The physician will choose a target blood pressure taking all the patient's health factors into consideration.