Lifestyle changes and medication often are used in combination to treat a patient’s hypertension.
The most commonly used medications are Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) and calcium channel blockers. Diuretics and adrenergic blockers can also be helpful in controlling blood pressure.
Some patients may have resistant hypertension, in which blood pressure may remain elevated despite the use of three or more different medications. This condition requires careful evaluation by the physician, as these patients may be at increased risk of heart attack or stroke.
In the most difficult cases of resistant hypertension, the condition may be a result of underlying factors, including hyperaldosteronism. In such cases, an interdisciplinary approach, such as the one employed by the Hypertension Center in the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, is vital for establishing an accurate diagnosis and initiating effective treatment.
Patients with accurately diagnosed white-coat hypertension who do not have consistently high blood pressure at any other time may not need treatment with medications. However, patients with this condition should be monitored by their physician, as they may be at an increased risk of developing hypertension in the future.