Hypertension/High Blood Pressure

• Nearly 50 million Americans suffer from hypertension, or high blood pressure, despite the fact that there are many effective medications to treat this disease.
  
  
• Often called "the silent killer" because of a lack of noticeable symptoms, hypertension can significantly increase your risk for coronary heart disease, kidney failure, and stroke.
  
  
• If you smoke, have diabetes, are a man or a postmenopausal woman, or have a family history of cardiovascular disease, you are at risk for hypertension. The risk also increases as you age.
  
  
• To maintain a healthy blood pressure (under 140/90), you should:
  
  -- Eat a balanced diet,
  -- Exercise regularly, and
  -- Restrict your use of salt.
  
  
• If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, ask your doctor or pharmacist about treatment options. There are a wide variety of medications and other therapies available today.
  
  
• Once on high blood pressure medication, never stop taking your prescription without your doctor's OK. Suddenly stopping therapy can radically increase your risk for stroke.
  
  
• Ask your hospital or health-system pharmacist if you have any questions about this or other medicines.
  
  

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