Hypertension occurs when the arterial blood pressure is above normal. High blood pressure by itself is not harmful--the real problem comes from the damage that is done to blood vessels and internal organs that are harmed by consistent high pressure. There are no symptoms of hypertension, and the disorder is usually only detected via routine medical screenings or when the symptoms of organ damage are noticed. Of course, by the time such symptoms are noted, the damage is often irreversible. Fortunately, there are a number of hypertension treatment and hypertension medication options that can keep the disease in check and prevent any negative long term side effects.



One of the most dangerous forms of high blood pressure is primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). This is a form of high blood pressure that is found in the arteries of the lungs. This can be particularly dangerous because of the delicate nature of lung tissue and the close relationship between the lungs and the heart. Primary pulmonary hypertension often makes itself known through shortness of breath, fatigue, fainting, and similar problems. This disorder is often caused by pre-existing heart conditions. The manner in which PPH is treated depends on the severity of the disorder. For mild cases of PPH, diet and lifestyle changes may be sufficient to bring the pulmonary arterial pressure back to within normal boundaries. However, more severe cases of PPH may require the use of hypertension medication in order to bring the pulmonary blood pressure to within acceptable parameters.

Those who are diagnosed with high blood pressure will usually be put on a hypertension treatment regimen by their physician. As with PPH, those who have mild to moderate blood pressure problems will first attempt to control their condition with lifestyle changes. Reducing salt intake helps reduce plasma volume and thereby blood pressure and exercise makes the heart more efficient and also helps reduce excess fat which can often be a major contributor to high blood pressure. For those who can not treat their condition with diet and/or exercise, or whose condition is too severe for diet and exercise alone, the next choice is medication. There are a number of medications available that can reduce the arterial pressure in the body thereby alleviating hypertension. The most commonly used medical treatments for high blood pressure include ACE inhibitors which serve to increase the elasticity of arterial tissues, alpha blockers, beta blockers, diuretics, and other pharmaceutical treatments.

High blood pressure is one of the major killers, particularly of males, in the western world. Reasons for this include a diet high in fat and low in vegetables, a sedentary lifestyle, and the simple fact that life spans have increased to the point where high blood pressure related illnesses make up a higher percentage of ailments than they did in the past due to the fact that such disorders often take many years to develop.