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Have you already tried lifestyle changes - and your blood pressure is still high? If your blood pressure is still too high after 3 months of healthier habits, your doctor is likely to suggest medicine.ĭo you also have other health conditions? High blood pressure raises your chances of getting a heart attack or stroke. If your home readings are normal, your doctor may decide you don't really need treatment. Lots of people have high blood pressure in the doctor's office because they're nervous. Have you checked your blood pressure at home, or only in the doctor's office? If you don't already have one, it's a good idea to get a home blood pressure monitor. Your doctor will want to check your blood pressure a few more times - over weeks or months - to make sure. Some issues to think about:ĭo you definitely have high blood pressure? One high reading isn't enough to know. Other things affect the decision to take meds. While your numbers are important, they don't tell the whole story. You need medical help right away to get it under control. If you ever have blood pressure that's 180/120 or above, it's an emergency. At the same time, you'll also need to make lifestyle changes.
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If you're 60 or older, the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend you start treatment if your top blood pressure number is 130 or higher.ġ40/90 or higher (stage 2 hypertension): You probably need medication.Īt this level, your doctor is likely to prescribe medicine now to get your blood pressure under control. One thing to keep in mind: Guidelines are different for older people. But your doctor will probably suggest that you try out lifestyle changes first before adding drugs - unless you have other health problems. These numbers qualify as high blood pressure and you need to take action. 130/80 to 139/89 (stage 1 hypertension): You might need medication. Cut down on salt and alcohol, get more exercise, and drop pounds if you're overweight. You're on the path to high blood pressure, so make some changes to your lifestyle. Unless you also have another health condition - like kidney disease or heart problems - your doctor will likely say you don't need drugs for now.īut don't ignore it. Your blood pressure is higher than you want, but it's not full-on high blood pressure. So on the blood pressure range, where do your numbers fall? 120 to 129/less than 80 (Elevated): You probably don't need medication. Over time, the extra pressure can cause damage - and raise your chances of heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. It's like a tire pumped with too much air. If one or both of those numbers is higher, there's too much pressure in your arteries. Normal blood pressure is less than 120 and less than 80. The bottom number lets you know when your heart relaxes The top number tells you the pressure when your heart squeezes. Blood pressure is always shown with a top and bottom number - like 130/90. The first step is to look at your numbers. Learn how you and your doctor can figure out when lifestyle changes are enough and when they need to pull out the prescription pad. A lot depends on how high your blood pressure is and your general health. Has your blood pressure been creeping up? If so, you may be at decision time: Do you need medicine right now or can you get those numbers down with healthier habits?