Blood pressure, high
Alternative names:
HBP; high blood pressure
Home care:
Unless the blood pressure reading is above 145/90 mmHg, hypertension drugs may not be prescribed by the health care provider.
For high blood pressure caused by essential hypertension, a proper diet, weight loss, exercise, and salt and alcohol reduction are often recommended. If these measures do not work, talk to your health care provider about taking medication to lower blood pressure.
For high blood pressure caused by medication, consult with your health care provider about changing or discontinuing drugs. DO NOT CHANGE YOUR MEDICATION WITHOUT CONSULTING YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
Call your health care provider if:
- there is unexplained and persistent high blood pressure. Blood pressure should be monitored routinely for adults over the age of 40 or who have risk factors such as obesity, smoking, drinking, or a family history of hypertension.
What to expect at your health care provider's office:
The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.
Medical history questions documenting high blood pressure in detail may include: - time pattern
- Has the blood pressure increased recently?
- Did it suddenly become high?
- quality
- What is the blood pressure?
- When the blood pressure is measured on multiple occasions, what is the average diastolic BP (the lower number)?
- How much has the blood pressure gone up within the past two weeks?
- What is the blood pressure now?
- What was the previous blood pressure?
- other
- What other symptoms are present?
The physical examination will include checking the blood pressure as well as a thorough general examination. The blood pressure may need to be monitored several times over a period of weeks or months.
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include: After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to high blood pressure to your personal medical record.
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