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Click on each question below to find out more about hypertension.
- What is high blood pressure (hypertension)?
- How do I know if I have high blood pressure?
- Is there a cure for high blood pressure?
- What is a "normal" blood pressure and what do the numbers mean?
- What causes hypertension?
- What can I do to help lower my blood pressure?
1. What is high blood pressure (hypertension)?
When your heart beats, it pumps blood through your arteries to the rest of your
body. The force of blood on the walls of the arteries is referred to as blood
pressure. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, occurs when the amount
of pressure needed to get the required amount of blood flow through your body
is higher than normal. This causes the heart to work harder than it should.
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2. How do I know if I have high blood pressure?
High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. If left uncontrolled, high blood pressure can cause serious health problems. However, if treated early, it can be controlled. It is important for your doctor to get an accurate measurement of your blood pressure.
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3. Is there a cure for high blood pressure?
For more than 90% of cases, there is no cure...yet. The good news is that high blood
pressure can be controlled. You may have to take daily medication, most
likely for the rest of your life, to keep your blood pressure under control.
There are also other ways you can help lower your blood pressure. Your
doctor and other members of your healthcare team will help find what works
best for you.
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4. What is a "normal" blood pressure and what do the numbers
mean?
A blood pressure reading has 2 measurements. Systolic, the top number, shows
the pressure that occurs during a heartbeat; diastolic, the bottom number, shows
the pressure that occurs between heartbeats. An ideal blood pressure
is less than 120 systolic and 80 diastolic (120/80). Generally, blood pressure is too high
if it stays over 140 systolic and 90 diastolic (140/90) after 2 or more visits
to the doctor's office.
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5. What causes hypertension?
More than 90% of the time, the exact cause of hypertension is not known, but risk
factors for the disease include the following:
What you can't control
- Family: a history of hypertension, heart disease, or diabetes
- Race: affects 1 out of 3 African Americans
- Age: affects a higher number of Americans over 60 years of age
What you can control
- Smoking
- Heavy drinking
- Weight gain
- Eating foods that are high in fat and sodium
- Inactivity
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6. What can I do to help lower my blood pressure?
Here are some of the ways you can help control the risks related to high blood
pressure:
- Quit smoking
- Limit drinking
- Lose weight if you are above your ideal weight
- Eat more fruits and vegetables
- Get more exercise
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Selected important cautionary information
MICARDIS (telmisartan) Tablets and MICARDIS HCT (telmisartan and hydrochlorothiazide) Tablets are contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to any of their components. MICARDIS HCT (telmisartan/hydrochlorothiazide) is contraindicated in patients with anuria or hypersensitivity to other sulfonamide-derived drugs.
In patients with an activated renin-angiotensin system, such as volume- and/or salt-depleted (e.g., those receiving high doses of diuretics), symptomatic hypotension may occur after initiation of MICARDIS or MICARDIS HCT therapy. This condition should be corrected prior to administration of MICARDIS or MICARDIS HCT, and treatment should start under close medical supervision.
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USE IN PREGNANCY
When used in pregnancy during the second and third trimesters, drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and even death to the developing fetus. When pregnancy is detected, MICARDIS and MICARDIS HCT Tablets should be discontinued as soon as possible (see WARNINGS, Fetal/Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality).
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