Hypertension Treatment

Hypertension
Treatment
Lifestyle modifications
The first line of treatment for hypertension is the same as the recommended preventative lifestyle changes such as the dietary changes, physical exercise, and weight loss, which have all been shown to significantly reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension.[55] If hypertension is high enough to justify immediate use of medications, lifestyle changes are still recommended in conjection with medication.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback devices can be used alone or in conjunction with lifestyle changes and/or medications to reduce hypertension. One example of Biofeedback is Resperate, a portable, battery-operated personal therapeutic medical device, sold over the counter in the United States. However, claims of efficacy for this particular device are not supported by scientific studies. Testimonials are used to promote such products, while no real evidence exists that the use of

Medications
Main article: Antihypertensive drugs
There are many classes of medications for treating hypertension, together called antihypertensives, which — by varying means — act by lowering blood pressure. Reduction of the blood pressure by 5–6 mmHg can decrease the risk of stroke by 40%, decrease the risk of heart disease by 15–20%, and reduce the likelihood of dementia, heart failure, and death.
The aim of treatment should be reduce blood pressure to <140/90 mmHg for most individuals, and lower individuals with diabetes or kidney disease (some medical professionals recommend keeping levels below 120/80 mmHg).[56] Each drug reduces systolic blood pressure by about 5–10 mmHg, so often multiple drugs are combined to achieve the goal blood pressure.
Commonly used prescription drugs include:[5]
• ACE inhibitors such as captopril, enalapril, fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Zestril), quinapril, ramipril (Altace)
• Angiotensin II receptor antagonists may be used where ACE inhibitors are not tolerated: e.g., telmisartan (Micardis, Pritor), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), candesartan (Amias), olmesartan (Benicar, Olmetec)
• Calcium channel blockers such as nifedipine (Adalat)[57] amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem, verapamil
• Diuretics: e.g., bendroflumethiazide, chlorthalidone, hydrochlorothiazide (also called HCTZ).
Other less commonly used prescription drugs include:
• Diuretics such a furosemide or low-dosages of spironolactone
• Alpha blockers such as prazosin, or terazosin. Doxazosin has been shown to the increase risk of heart failure, and to be less effective than a diuretics.[58]
• Beta blockers such as atenolol, labetalol, metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL), propranolol. Whilst once were first line agents, now they are less commonly used because they increase the risk of diabetes.[59]
• Direct renin inhibitors such as aliskiren (Tekturna).[60]