Hypertension Management
High blood pressure has no symptoms until it causes a stroke or a heart attack, which is why it is called silent and why so many people stop their tablets when they feel fine. Controlling it is among the most effective things medicine does, and it is largely a matter of persistence.
- Diagnosed on repeated readings, not one
- Home monitoring encouraged
- Kidney and heart effects checked
- Most people need more than one tablet
Stay
Outpatient
Duration
Review every 3 to 6 months
Anaesthesia
Not applicable
About Hypertension Management
Blood pressure varies through the day and rises in a clinic, so diagnosis rests on repeated readings and often on home or ambulatory monitoring. Once confirmed, treatment is aimed at a target rather than at feeling better, because there is nothing to feel. Most people eventually need more than one medication, which is expected and not a sign of failure.
- Readings in clinic are often higher than at home
- There are no symptoms to guide treatment, so targets are used
- Most people need two or more medications
- Salt, weight and alcohol all make a measurable difference
Before you read on
Everything here is general information about hypertension management. Whether it suits you, and how it would be done in your case, is a decision for your doctor after examining you.
Your consultant's instructions always take precedence over anything written on this page.
When is it recommended?
Situations in which a doctor may suggest hypertension management.
- Raised blood pressure found at a check
- Known hypertension needing review
- Blood pressure not controlled on current treatment
- Hypertension with diabetes or kidney disease
- Hypertension in pregnancy
- Family history with early readings creeping up
Procedure details
The usual sequence, from first consultation through to follow-up.
Confirming the diagnosis
Repeated readings, and often home or 24-hour monitoring, because a single high reading in clinic is not enough to diagnose.
Looking for causes and effects
Blood tests, urine testing and an ECG check kidney function and look for damage already done.
Starting treatment
Medication is chosen for your age, other conditions and side-effect profile, starting low and building up.
Review
Blood pressure is rechecked at intervals and treatment adjusted until it is at target, then reviewed twice yearly.
How to prepare
What to sort out before you come in.
- Bring home blood pressure readings if you have a monitor, with dates and times
- Bring every medication box, including painkillers, which can raise blood pressure
- Avoid coffee and smoking for 30 minutes before the appointment
- Sit quietly for five minutes before the reading is taken
- Note any side effects from previous blood pressure tablets
Recovery
What to expect afterwards, and roughly when.
- Blood pressure medication is long term, and stopping it lets the pressure rise again within days
- Side effects are common with some tablets and usually solvable by changing to another
- Reducing salt, losing weight and cutting alcohol all lower readings measurably
- Home readings are more reliable than clinic readings for judging control
- A review is arranged every three to six months once stable
Why choose Humayun for blood pressure
Blood pressure is easy to treat and easy to abandon, and follow-up is what separates the two.
- Diagnosis on repeated and home readings rather than one high clinic measurement
- Kidney function and heart effects checked rather than treating the number alone
- Side effects taken seriously and medication changed, because they are the main reason people stop
- Regular review, since blood pressure that was controlled last year may not be now
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