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Treating resistant high blood pressure

New guidelines address how to manage high blood pressure that is resistant to normal treatment. The guidelines were released by the American Heart Association.

What is resistant high blood pressure?

Hypertension is labeled resistant if a person's blood pressure remains high despite taking 3 or more blood pressure lowering medications.

Old age and obesity are 2 key contributing factors to resistant high blood pressure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure is not the same as resistant high blood pressure, as uncontrolled high blood pressure can be due to a person failing to take their medication as recommended.

The new guidelines

The guidelines include:

• Lifestyle factors - reduce weight if you are obese and reduce the amount of sodium and alcohol in your diet.
• Secondary causes of hypertension - be aware of other disorders that may cause high blood pressure, for example, obstructive sleep apnea.
• Medications - take multiple drugs to reduce blood pressure and time your medication so at least one is taken at bed time to help lower nighttime blood pressure.

Guidelines conclusions

Advice for patients included, "Patients need to recognize the importance of blood pressure control and that in most cases they will need a combined approach of lifestyle changes and medication for effective treatment."

"More frequent clinic visits and home blood pressure monitoring will generally help patients adhere to their treatment routine."

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For further information on living with and controlling high blood pressure visit the Blood Pressure Home Monitoring Center.