You Can Lower Risk of Stroke With Hypertension Medications - 4 Facts

If you have more than normal BP and are at a risk of hypertension, you are exposed to a higher risk for heart disease and stroke. Latest research in this field indicates that risk of stroke can be greatly reduced by taking pills that are prescribed for lowering BP.

If systolic blood pressure is between 120 and 139 and diastolic between 80 and 89, you suffer from beginning stages of hypertension. You are said to have high BP if the reading is 140/90 mm Hg or higher.

Stroke occurs when blood supply to one or more areas of the brain stops temporarily. When oxygen supply to the brain stops even for a few seconds, serious complications arise. If blood pressure is high, blood vessels narrow due to build up in arteries.

High blood pressure can also break fatty deposits which in turn block the blood vessels supplying oxygen to the brain. Artery walls in those who suffer from high BP may become thick or weak. This impedes flow of blood to the brain due to rupture of blood vessel. The higher your BP is, the higher your risk of stroke is.

Some of the common symptoms of stroke include weakness and fatigue, trouble understanding conversations, unexplained mood change and confusion, headache, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. If you suffer from hypertension, it is recommended not to ignore any of these symptoms as stroke is a potentially life threatening emergency.

Here are a few facts on how you can lower risk of stroke with hypertension medications -

   1. Before prescribing medications, dietary changes may be advocated by your doctor to treat hypertension. According to experts, medications are expensive and may not be affordable for many on a regular basis. So, some doctors do not jump into prescribing medications at the first instant.

   2. If the patient has a history of mini-stroke, diabetes or heart disease, these factors may tip the scales in favor of medications. Many doctors feel that there is no need to wait for the condition to worse as treating hypertension with medications at the onset is a sure way of preventing stroke and other related conditions.

   3. At least 16 studies have been conducted recently with more than 70,000 people suffering from hypertension. They were treated with a placebo or BP medications. Results showed that those who were put on medications that lowered BP were 22 percent less likely to have a stroke as compared to those who were advocated only lifestyle changes.

   4. The latest approach is to try to bring BP under control through lifestyle changes for a while before starting on medications for those who do not have any other ailments or habits such as high cholesterol or smoking.