The general risk factors involved with high blood pressure are smoking, obesity, stress and family history. To diagnose HBP a patient usually undergoes an electrocardiogram, kidney function tests and blood tests to help look for damage to organs.

Once HBP has been diagnosed it is usually treated and managed with general measures and/or drugs. General measures include diet (decrease alcohol consumption, reduce weight, low sodium) and risk factor modification (stop smoking, cholesterol control, exercise). Some of the HBP drugs available include:

• Thiazide and other diuretics
• ACE-inhibitors e.g. Lisinopril
• Angiotensin II receptor antagonist e.g. Losartan
• Calcium antagonists e.g. Diltiazem etc

Blood pressure readings (Systolic/Diastolic mmHg) have two numbers. Systolic pressure is the pressure while the heart contracts and Diastolic pressure is the pressure between two contractions of the heart. A normal blood pressure reading is 120/80 mmHg while a high blood pressure reading is something like 140/90 mmHg.

There are many factors affecting blood pressure such as: age, gender, diet, smoking, stress and physical activity. These factors can lead to two classifications of high blood pressure. Primary or essential Hypertension and Secondary hypertension.