Can people be cured from hypertension (high blood pressure)?

From the Guidelines

Hypertension is typically a chronic condition that is managed rather than cured, and most people with hypertension will need lifelong treatment. According to the most recent evidence from 1, the management of hypertension involves a combination of lifestyle modifications and pharmacological treatment to reduce blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk. Effective management includes medications such as ACE inhibitors, ARBs, calcium channel blockers, or thiazide diuretics, which are often combined for better control.

Key Lifestyle Modifications

• Reducing sodium intake to less than 2,300mg daily
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Regular exercise, such as 150 minutes of moderate activity weekly
• Limiting alcohol consumption
• Following the DASH diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains

Importance of Ongoing Management

Hypertension requires ongoing management because it results from complex physiological factors, including genetics, vascular changes, and kidney function, that typically cannot be permanently reversed, though they can be effectively controlled with proper treatment, as supported by 1. Blood pressure should be monitored regularly, with a target generally below 130/80 mmHg. While some individuals may achieve normal blood pressure through significant lifestyle modifications, the majority of people with hypertension will require lifelong treatment to manage their condition effectively.

From the FDA Drug Label

Lisinopril tablets USP are indicated for the treatment of hypertension in adult patients and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure lowers the risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions Numerous antihypertensive drugs, from a variety of pharmacologic classes and with different mechanisms of action, have been shown in randomized controlled trials to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and it can be concluded that it is blood pressure reduction, and not some other pharmacologic property of the drugs, that is largely responsible for those benefits

The answer to the question of whether people get cured from hypertension is no, people do not get "cured" from hypertension in the sense that the condition is eliminated. However, with treatment, such as with lisinopril, blood pressure can be lowered and the risk of cardiovascular events can be reduced 2, 2.

• Hypertension management involves lifestyle changes and medication to control blood pressure.
• Treatment goals include reducing the risk of cardiovascular events, such as strokes and myocardial infarctions.
• Lisinopril is one medication that can be used to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events.

From the Research

Definition and Prevalence of Hypertension

• Hypertension is defined as persistent systolic blood pressure (SBP) at least 130 mm Hg or diastolic BP (DBP) at least 80 mm Hg 3
• It affects approximately 116 million adults in the US and more than 1 billion adults worldwide 3, 4
• The prevalence of hypertension has increased, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) 4

Treatment and Management of Hypertension

• First-line therapy for hypertension is lifestyle modification, including weight loss, healthy dietary pattern, physical activity, and moderation or elimination of alcohol consumption 3
• First-line drug therapy for hypertension consists of a thiazide or thiazidelike diuretic, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker, and a calcium channel blocker 3, 5, 6, 7
• The decision to initiate antihypertensive medication should be based on the level of BP and the presence of high atherosclerotic CVD risk 3
• Randomized clinical trials have established the efficacy of BP lowering to reduce the risk of CVD morbidity and mortality 3

Cure and Control of Hypertension

• There is no clear evidence that people can be "cured" of hypertension, but it can be controlled with lifestyle modifications and medication 3, 5, 6, 7
• Only 44% of US adults with hypertension have their SBP/DBP controlled to less than 140/90 mm Hg 3
• The goal of treatment is to achieve a blood pressure target of less than 130/80 mm Hg for adults under 65 years and less than 130 mm Hg for adults over 65 years 3