Introduction
Hypertension is a serious condition because the patient may not feel the symptoms of this condition until it develops into a severe state. However, once the symptoms develop, they can affect other vital systems and organs. Hypertension is also referred to as high blood pressure, is a condition in which the blood pressure is greater than usual. Normally, a person’s blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day depending on what one does and this is not considered a medical issue. Blood pressure readings that are regularly higher than normal might lead to a diagnosis of hypertension. Some symptoms include headaches, breath shortness, nosebleeds, although a patient may not have any of these symptoms.
Medication
The higher one’s blood pressure, the greater the chance of developing additional health issues. This includes heart disease, heart attack, and stroke, which is why it is important to refer to a care provider and take medications that will reduce blood pressure. The two commonly used medications for the treatment of hypertension are calcium channel blockers and diuretics. Calcium blockers are the commonly used medications for the treatment of hypertension. By broadening the person’s blood vessels, this medicine helps to lower blood pressure, which is the main effect of hypertension. Examples include amlodipine, felodipine, and nifedipine. Grapefruit juice should not be consumed while on this diet since it may raise the likelihood of negative effects. Diuretics, or so-called “water pills,” work by removing excess water and salt from the body via the urine. Long-term usage may cause a deficiency in potassium and salt, which should be corrected by diet.
Diet
Diet changes are among the necessary things that a person with hypertension should consider. One should avoid processed foods and sault as these products can affect the work of diuretics, while low fat milk and low fat meat as these products. The DASH strategy, which is a diet centered on fruits and vegetables, is one of the diet considerations. The above slides show links to patient resources, including the one detailing the DASH diet that is helpful when changing the eating habits to address hypertension. These resources may be used to learn more about the most prevalent risk factors, symptoms, and self-care options for hypertension. These resources may be used to learn more about the most prevalent risk factors, symptoms, and self-care options for hypertension. The greatest option to address hypertension is diet, and DASH is one of the evidence-based diets for persons with hypertension.
Risk Factors and Summary
Although any person can develop hypertension, there are several risk factors that one should pay attention to. For example, some studies report the link between high blood pressure and age or race. Additionally, obesity is a serious risk factor for hypertension, as well as having close relatives who were diagnosed with this condition. In summary, this presentation aims to educate the patients on the issues of hypertension and medication and diet considerations. Although hypertension may be difficult to diagnose, it is essential to use medication and diet changes to manage this condition once the provider confirms that a person has hypertension.
References
American Heart Association. (n.d.). Managing blood pressure with a heart-healthy diet. Web.
Mills, K., Stefanescu, A., & He, J. (2020). The global epidemiology of hypertension. Nature Reviews Nephrology, 16(4), 223-237.