High blood pressure

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Blood pressure check	DASH diet	Exercise can lower blood pressure	High blood pressure tests
Lifestyle changes	Monitoring blood pressure	Untreated hypertension

HBP; Blood pressure - high

Ask your doctor how often you should have your blood pressure checked. Some people may need to check their blood pressure regularly at home.

Medicines and lifestyle changes, such as exercising and following a health diet, may be needed. If you have other risk factors for heart disease, especially diabetes, your doctor will consider starting medications sooner rather than later. The goal is to lower your blood pressure below 140/90, or below 130/80 if you have diabetes or kidney disease.

If you have high blood pressure, you will have regularly scheduled appointments with your doctor.

Call your health care provider right away if home monitoring shows that your blood pressure remains high or you have any of the following symptoms:

• Chest pain
• Confusion
• Excessive tiredness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Severe headache
• Shortness of breath
• Significant sweating
• Vision changes

Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and check your blood pressure. If you monitor your blood pressure at home, you may be asked the following questions:

• Has your blood pressure increased recently?
• Did it suddenly become high?
• How much has the blood pressure gone up within the past two weeks?
• What was your most recent blood pressure reading?
• What was the previous blood pressure reading?
• What is the average systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number)?
• What other symptoms do you have?

• Chem-20
• Echocardiogram
• Urinalysis
• X-ray of the kidneys

Review Date: 02/07/2007
Reviewed By: Glenn Gandelman, MD, MPH, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.