Everybody is different, so you should visit your doctor and get a professional diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Those people suffering from diabetes or kidney problems will have to be treated differently to others.

While there are medications to lower blood pressure, it is a good idea to try the natural “lifestyle” changes approach first, including losing weight, exercise, reducing stress levels, stop smoking, cut back on alcohol, diet, etc.

There are some people who find that acupuncture works to reduce blood pressure. Alternative remedies like this are laughed at by some health professional, but I do think they deserve a mention here.

Some people with very high blood pressure do need to be put on medication quite quickly after diagnosis.

High blood pressure treatments

The following are a list of some common medications used to treat high blood pressure:

Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) and angiotensin receptor blockers – These stop your body from making a hormone called angiotensin II. This hormones natural role is to cause blood vessels to narrow, so by preventing this narrowing by blocking the hormone, your blood pressure goes down. Possible side effects include headaches, dizziness and an irritating cough.

Beta-blockers – slow your heart beat rate and the force of the heart beat by blocking the effects of adrenaline. This causes blood pressure to be reduced. Possible side effects include : Fatigue and lethargy. Depression, memory loss, dizziness and cold in the extremities are also reported.

Diuretics – or so-called “water-pills”. They help remove excess water and salt from your body. This helps reduce the overall volume of blood in your body, and therefore reduce your blood pressure. Possible side-effects include fatigue, irritability, depression, increase in cholesterol levels, and allergic reactions.

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) – stop calcium from entering muscle cells in your heart and blood vessels. This causes the muscle to relax, opening the blood vessels and reducing blood pressure. Side effects include tiredness, drowsiness or dizziness, headaches, nausea, constipation (or diarrhea), swelling of the legs or feet, dry mouth.

Alpha-blockers – reduce the nerve impulses that cause constriction of the blood vessels. Side effects include dizziness, fainting and heart palpitations.

Vasodilators - drugs which open up the blood vessels to decrease the pressure of the blood.

You will need to discuss your treatment with your doctor, and the possible side-effects. By trying different medications, you should be able to find a treatment that suits you and minimizes side-effects.

If you are interested, you can read our section on”What causes high blood pressure“.

High blood pressure is a problem for many people, but can be especially dangerous when a woman is pregnant, and can lead to life-threatening problems. High blood pressure affects all organs in the body, but when you are pregnant, you have an extra organ – the placenta, which connects you to your baby, so fetal problems can arise.

What is pre-eclampsia?

Pre-eclampsia is also called Toxemia and is a complex disorder.

Preeclampsia definition (source: Medical Terms and Definitions Website): A condition characterized by a sharp rise in blood pressure during the third trimester of pregnancy. High blood pressure may be accompanied by edema (swelling), and kidney problems, as evidenced by protein in the urine. Although preeclampsia is relatively common, occurring in about 5 percent of all pregnancies and more frequently in first pregnancies, it can be a sign of serious problems. In some cases, untreated preeclampsia can progress to eclampsia, a life-threatening situation for both mother and baby.

Who is at most risk?

• First pregnancy
• Women who suffered from high blood pressure before they got pregnant.
• Overweight women.
• Women under 20 or over 40.
• Those who have suffered pre-eclampsia in a previous pregnancy, or if your mother or sister suffered pre-eclampsia.
• Women with medical history of diabetes, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
• Multiple pregnancy

From week 20 onwards in your pregnancy, a rise in blood pressure can indicate pre-eclampsia, and you should contact your doctor immediately. The doctor will take your blood pressure and likely do tests including urine analysis to look for protein.

What are the risks?

Preeclampsia can cause low birth weight and other problems for your baby because it can stop the baby getting enough air or food through the placenta. Preeclampsia causes your blood vessels to constrict (getting smaller), which reduces the flow to the placenta and other organs of your body.

Preeclampsia can develop into eclampsia – which can be very serious. It is characterised by convulsions, and can lead to disability or death.

In a few cases, preeclampsia will develop into something called HELLP syndrome (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelets). Women who develop HELLP syndrome usually have to deliver early to prevent serious complications.

What are the signs/symptoms of preeclampsia?

Symptoms include:

• Swelling in hands, feet and ankles.
• Puffiness around the eyes.
• Vision problems (light sensitive, blurred etc).
• Nausea and vomiting
• Tender upper abdomen, or pain.
• Weight gain

Some symptoms appear very much like normal pregnancy complaints, so do get checked up if in doubt.