From the Guidelines
Hypertension should be managed with a combination of lifestyle modifications and medication, aiming for a blood pressure below 130/80 mmHg for most adults, as recommended by recent guidelines 1. The management of hypertension is crucial to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality, which is the leading cause of death globally 1.
Key Components of Hypertension Management
- Lifestyle modifications:
- Reducing sodium intake to less than 2300mg daily
- Following the DASH diet rich in fruits and vegetables
- Regular exercise (150 minutes of moderate activity weekly)
- Limiting alcohol consumption
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Quitting smoking
- Medication:
- First-line treatment typically includes thiazide diuretics, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, or calcium channel blockers
- Treatment should be titrated to achieve the target blood pressure
- Medication adherence is crucial for effective control
Importance of Blood Pressure Control
- Prolonged high blood pressure damages blood vessels and organs, leading to increased risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and other complications 1
- Regular blood pressure monitoring is essential to adjust treatment and achieve target blood pressure
- Multiple medications may be needed to achieve target blood pressure, and treatment is typically lifelong as hypertension is a chronic condition 1
From the FDA Drug Label
Losartan is indicated for the treatment of hypertension in adults and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older, to lower blood pressure. Amlodipine besylate is a type of medicine known as a calcium channel blocker (CCB). It is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and a type of chest pain called angina.
Hypertension Treatment:
- Losartan and amlodipine are both indicated for the treatment of hypertension.
- Losartan is used to lower blood pressure in adults and pediatric patients 6 years of age and older 2.
- Amlodipine besylate is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) by relaxing blood vessels, which lets blood flow more easily and helps lower blood pressure 3.
- Both medications can be used to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack associated with high blood pressure.
- The choice of therapy may depend on individual patient factors, such as the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy or diabetic nephropathy, and should be guided by published guidelines and clinical judgment.
From the Research
Definition and Prevalence of Hypertension
- Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide.
- According to the study 4, about 0.9 billion people in the world have hypertension, and the mortality due to hypertension has increased dramatically over the last decades.
Lifestyle Modifications for Hypertension
- Lifestyle modifications are recommended as the first line of therapy for patients with mildly or moderately elevated blood pressure and blood cholesterol 5.
- The study 6 found that applying lifestyle intervention in the form of a continuous care model (CCM) can reduce dietary sodium intake and mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with hypertension.
- Healthcare professional-led interventions on lifestyle modifications have been shown to be effective in lowering blood pressure in patients with hypertension 4.
- Maintaining healthy lifestyle factors, such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, and not smoking, can lower systolic blood pressure by 3.5 mm Hg and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by about 30% 7.
Components of Lifestyle Modifications
- The primary strategies for lifestyle modification include proper nutrition through the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan and sodium restriction, weight reduction, increased physical activity, and moderation of alcohol consumption 8.
- Increasing physical activity has extensive benefits, including improving both blood pressure and blood cholesterol, and is comparable, superior, or complementary to other healthy lifestyle changes 5.
- Reducing salt, sodium, and fat intake, changing eating habits to include more fruits and vegetables, not smoking, consuming less alcohol, exercising regularly, maintaining healthy body weight, and minimizing stressful conditions can all affect blood pressure 7.
Role of Healthcare Professionals
- Healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, play a crucial role in supporting patients with hypertension to modify their lifestyle and decrease blood pressure 4, 8.
- Healthcare professionals can assess, prescribe, counsel, and refer patients to support increased physical activity and other lifestyle modifications 5.
- Conducting a lifestyle intervention using health education can improve lifestyle factors and reduce blood pressure 7.