BLOOD PRESSURE CATEGORIES SYSTOLIC DIASTOLIC Normal less than 120 less than 80 prehypertension 120-139 80-90 HIGH-CONSISTS OF 2 DIFFERENT STAGES: stage 1. 140-159 90-99 stage 2. 160-higher 100-higher QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR: ABOUT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE - what your numbers mean. - what shuld your blood pressure mean. - what you ortions are to control high b/p - what type of b/p machine you should get for home - how your excercising can effect your b/p. - if you are a drinker, ask what limit should you daily intake be. - if your a smoker, ask about that too. About drug treatment: - should you be taking medication, if yes which one and what make it better for you than any other medication. - sodium - is there any in medications. - side effects you might experience and for how long, - how long will you have to take medications. - how can you remember to take your medications due to the fact that it is not part of your daily routine and what if you forget and missed a dos. - what foods and medications (prescribed and over the counter medications) High blood pressure can occur in both children & young adults, but most commonly occurs wit people of age 35 and older. Particularly it is proven to be prevalent in African Americans, middle aged people, elderly people, when obese, heavy drinkers, women who take birth control pills. Heart disease is more common in women than in men. It can be that it runs in your family who have a history of this. It can occur in people who have diabetes, gout, or kidney disease as well. HOW TO MANAGE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: Losing weight, lower or if you can stop the salt intake,t= taking your prescription medications, try to stay free from stress, hot tubs/saunas can raise blood pressure, if you are a drinker, hot tubs/saunas when you have consumed alcohol regardless of b/p problems or not. Also going from hot to cold to hot to cold etc. sodas have a high amount of sodium in it, decongestant meds increase blood pressure. Know the over the counter meds that you can take that wont cause b/p to rise because there are plenty out there to not take. Know your b/p and check it daily (a piece of advice: the wrist b/p cuffs and the finger b/p cuff are not accurate like a manual one or any cuff for your arm and make sure the cuff fits well if it doesn't you will get an inacurate reading.), know what your weight should be and try to keep it that or a little under, low salt and saturated fats diet, no sodas not even diet, It would also be a good idea to have your family checked regularly as well. Often when treating high blood pressure requires alot of time and hard work on both you and your doctor, this is going to require a great deal of patience with both of you. As most medications because it is new to your body and it's normal routine it may be a while for any symptoms to go away. Be patient and do what the doctor recommends for you and you should be fine. THE 5 MOST COMMON MEDICATION PEOPLE TAKE: 1. Antihypertensives - this is available to lower the high b/p. 2. Sympathetic nerve inhibitions - this works by going from the brain to all parts of the body including the arteries to constrict and raise blood pressure. This class drug also reduces high b/p by inhibiting these nerves from constricting blood vessels. 3. Diuretics - this medication rids the bod of all excess fluids and sodium (salt) and is usually used as initial therapyfor most people. 4. Beta-blockers - it reduces the heart rate and controls the output of blood from your heart. 5. Vasodialators - used to cause the muscle in the walls of the blood vessels; espeacially the arterials to relax and allowing to relax and vessels to dialate, (widen) (open.) ACE - medically speaking it would be angiotension - converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotension II receptor blockers and the calcium antagonist (calcium channel blocker.) ACE inhibitors interfere with the bodys production of angiolensior (which is a chemical that causes arteries to constrict.) Angiotension II receptor - blockers block the effects of anginotension. Calcium antagonist - reduces the heart rate (pulse) and relax blood vessels. NAME BRAND MEDICATION AS FOLLOWS: Diuretics: chlorthalidone, furosemiden, hydrochlorothiazide, indapamide, metolazone. Potassium - sparing diuretics: amiloride hydrochloride,spironolactone, spironolactine, triamterene Combination diuretics - all combined with hydrochlorothiazide: amiloridehydrocchloride, spironolactone, triamterene. Beta blockers: acebutolol, atenolol, betaxolo, bisoprolol furarate, carteolol hydrochloride, metoprolol tartate, metoprolol succinatenadal, penbutolol sulfate, pindolol, prophanolol hydrochloride, trimolol maleaste. ACE Inhibitors: benazepril hydrochloride, catopril, enalapril mealite, fosinopril sodium, lisinopril, moexipril, quinapril hydrochloride, ramipril, trandolapril Angiotension II receptor blockers candesarton, irbesarten, losarten potassium, valsarton Calcium channel blockers: amlodipine besylate, diltiazem hydrochloride, SR dilacorXR, felodipine, isradipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, nisoldipine, verapamiel hydrochloride. Alpha blockers: doxalzosin mesylate, prazosin, terazosin hydrochloride. Combined Alpha and Beta blockers: carredilol, labetolol hydrochloride. Central agonists: Alpha methydopa, clonidine hydrochloride, quanabenz acetate, quantacine hydrochloride. Peripheral adrenergic inhibitors: quanadrel, guanethidine monosulfate,resepine,minoxidale.