You should always get individual advice about your own health and any treatment you may need from a medical professional such as a GP or pharmacist. Tailoring your treatment. The medication you take will be tailored to your individual needs. The medication recommended for you at first will depend on your age and ethnicity. You might take one type of medication or a combination of two or more types.
This is because the drugs work in different ways, and rather than take more of one type, it can be more effective to take two or more different types. You may need to try different combinations to find out which works best for you. If you need to take four or more different types of medication to control your blood pressure, you should be referred to see a specialist. How long will I be on medication? The aim of the medication is to keep your blood pressure low and stable over many years.
This helps to keep your blood vessels healthy and reduce the risk of a stroke. Some people may be advised to continue taking medication for high blood pressure for the rest of their lives. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or stroke nurse to find out more about what is causing your blood pressure and the best treatment options for you. Making changes to your lifestyle such as stopping smoking or losing weight can help to lower blood pressure. With support from your doctor or pharmacist, some people may eventually be able to reduce or stop the medication.
If you stop taking your medication, your blood pressure will rise. This means your stroke risk will go up. If you're worried about side effects, ask for a medication review from your doctor or pharmacist. You should have regular blood pressure checks, and a medication review every year. If you have high blood pressure during pregnancy, your blood pressure will be monitored during pregnancy, labour and after the birth.
The most commonly used drug for high blood pressure in pregnancy is labetalol. These are not licensed for use in pregnancy, but they can be offered along with advice about the risks and the reasons for using it. If you are on blood pressure medication before becoming pregnant, you might need to change to a different type as some types are not safe to use in pregnancy.
You should speak to your doctor to discuss the best way to manage your blood pressure during pregnancy. These are the most commonly used ones, but other types are also available, including beta-blockers. ACE inhibitors.
These drugs are usually the first choice of treatment for people aged under 55 who are not of African-Caribbean origin. Angiotensin II is a hormone which regulates blood pressure. ACE inhibitors stop the production of this hormone and relax your arteries, so your blood pressure falls. ACE inhibitors seem to work better at lowering your blood pressure if you also reduce the amount of salt you eat.
Possible side effects include dizziness, tiredness, weakness, rash, headaches and changes to your sense of taste. The most common side effect is a persistent dry cough. If this is troublesome, you may be advised to try an angiotensin-2 receptor blocker medication instead see below which works in a similar way.
You will have blood tests after starting or increasing your dose of ACE inhibitor to check your kidney function and the level of potassium in your blood. ACE inhibitors can cause unpredictable effects if they are taken with other types of medication including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, as well as other drugs such as antacids and lithium. Check with your GP or pharmacist before taking any other types of medication if you take an ACE inhibitor.
Angiotensin-2 receptor blockers ARB. Like ACE inhibitors, these work on the hormone angiotensin-2 by blocking its effects. They are usually used instead of an ACE inhibitor if you are not able to tolerate one. The two types of medication should not be used together. These drugs are usually recommended for people aged under 55 who are not of African-Caribbean origin.
They can be useful if you have diabetes or kidney disease as well as high blood pressure. This is because these types of drug can protect your kidneys. Possible side effects are usually mild and include dizziness, headache or cold or flu-like symptoms. Calcium channel blockers. These drugs are particularly effective in controlling high blood pressure in people aged over 55 and in African-Caribbean people of any age.
They stop calcium from entering the muscle cells in your heart and blood vessels. This widens your arteries and lowers your blood pressure. What causes high blood pressure?
These include: A family history of high blood pressure Age blood pressure can rise as people get older Men are more likely to have high blood pressure than women Being overweight Excessive alcohol drinking Smoking Diabetes Lack of exercise A diet high in salt.
Control your risk Know your blood pressure and keep it down. The lower your blood pressure, the lower your risk of stroke. More information High Blood Pressure and Stroke Fact Sheet pdf How to check that a blood pressure monitor has been properly tested for accuracy pdf. Get info direct to your inbox Submit Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. You will receive an email to confirm your subscription shortly.
What happens when you have a stroke A stroke occurs when a blood vessel to the brain is either blocked by a clot ischemic stroke or bursts hemorrhagic stroke. Download a fact sheet about how high blood pressure leads to stroke PDF Know your blood pressure numbers Make changes that matter to help prevent stroke Learn the important connection between BP, atrial fibrillation and stroke. Support That Lifts You Up Our online community of survivors and caregivers is here to keep you going no matter the obstacles.
Find encouragement. Last Reviewed: Oct 31, Subscribe today! Email required Email Required. Zip Code required Zip Code Required. Watch video Jodi. Endothelial damage and altered blood cell-endothelium interaction can lead to local thrombi formation and ischaemic lesions. Fibrinoid necrosis can cause lacunar infarcts through focal stenosis and occlusions. Degenerative changes in smooth muscle cells and endothelium predisposes for intracerebral haemorrhages.
0コメント