41 PRACTICAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT HYPERTENSION AND HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA - 2008

Questions and Answers

PREFACE KEY POINTS GENERAL INFORMATION What is blood pressure and Hypertension? How common is hypertension? What is systolic and diastolic blood pressure? What is the cause of hypertension? What are the risks due to hypertension? Which blood pressure is more dangerous: systolic or diastolic? What are the symptoms of high blood pressure? BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENT - DEVICES What is the correct method for blood pressure measurement? What is the correct method for blood pressure monitoring at home? Which devices are reliable for the measurement of blood pressure at home? What is 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring? DIAGNOSIS OF HYPERTENSION What are the normal values of blood pressure? How can hypertension be diagnosed? What is white coat hypertension? What is the threshold for hypertension in the elderly? Does hypertension in children exist? TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION - BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL Can hypertension be cured? Why should blood pressure be well controlled? In what level should blood pressure be lowered with the treatment? Is hypertension well controlled in Greece? BLOOD PRESSURE REDUCTION WITHOUT MEDICATION - LIFESTYLE CHANGES How can blood pressure be reduced without drug treatment? Oranges, coffee and garlic: do they really affect blood pressure level? Are sedatives-tranquilizers effective in lowering blood pressure? DRUG TREATMENT FOR HYPERTENSION Which are the blood pressure lowering (antihypertensive) drugs? How does each class of antihypertensive drugs act and what are their main advantages and disadvantages? How are antihypertensive drugs used in practice? Is it right to use antihypertensive drug every other day or 2-3 times per week? When blood pressure is elevated should I take an extra antihypertensive pill? What must be done when blood pressure is too low? Are there any cases in which antihypertensive drug treatment can be discontinued? What is antihypertensive crisis and how should it be managed? How often should a hypertensive person visit the doctor? What else should hypertensive persons know? HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA Why is high cholesterol important? What is "good" and what is "bad" cholesterol and what are the triglycerides? When and how should a lipid blood test be performed? How low should cholesterol levels be? How can cholesterol levels be lowered without drugs? When and how should high levels of cholesterol be treated? Which drugs lower cholesterol? Are there any other therapies for high cholesterol?