About this topic
High blood pressure happens when your heart is working harder than normal to pump blood to the body. Most people have no known cause or reason for high blood pressure. ‚
High blood pressure cannot be cured. You must control it with drugs and lifestyle changes. If you do not control it, your high blood pressure can lead to heart attack, stroke, and kidney problems. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Learn to take and record your blood pressure at home.
- Avoid stress.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to help control your high blood pressure. Take your drugs as ordered. Do not take other prescription drugs or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs without talking to your doctor first. ‚
Will physical activity be limited?
Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. Exercise may help you lose weight and lower your blood pressure. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
- Do not use salt on your food. Use herbs to improve the taste.
- Do not eat more than 2.4 grams of sodium a day. Read food labels to see how much sodium is in a food.
- Limit coffee, tea, and soda to 2 cups a day.
- Limit beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol) to 1 drink a day for women and 2 drinks a day for men.
- Eat lots of fruits, veggies, and low-fat dairy products.
- Do not eat fatty foods like fried foods or chips.
- Talk with your dietitian about the diet changes you need and the number of calories you should eat each day.
What problems could happen?
- Heart attack, heart failure, or other heart problems
- Stroke
- Swelling of blood vessels
- Kidney failure
- Loss of eyesight
- Memory problems
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Exercise regularly.
- Keep a healthy weight.
- Stop smoking. Your doctor can refer you to a stop smoking program.
- Learn to control stress.
When do I need to call the doctor?
Activate the emergency medical system right away if you have signs of a heart attack or stroke. Call 911 in the United States or Canada. The sooner treatment begins, the better your chances for recovery. Call for emergency help right away if you have: ‚
- Signs of heart attack:
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing
- Fast heartbeat
- Feeling dizzy
- Signs of stroke:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
Call your doctor if you have: ‚
- Blood pressure that is 20 points above what you normally get on either the top or bottom number
- Blood pressure that is higher than 220/120
- Very bad headache
- Confusion
- Sudden change in hearing or eyesight
- Nosebleed
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what numbers are too high for my blood pressure.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have signs of a heart attack or stroke.
Where can I learn more?
Better Health Channel ‚
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Hypertension_means_high_blood_pressure ‚
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute ‚
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/hbp/ ‚
National Institute of Health ¢ ˆ ’ Senior Health ‚
http://nihseniorhealth.gov/highbloodpressure/whatishighbp/01.html ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/blood-pressure-(high)/pages/introduction.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚