Table of Contents

1 What is blood pressure?.
2 What is systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure?.


3 How is blood pressure measured?.


4 What is normal blood pressure?.


5 Are the blood pressure machines in pharmacies, shopping malls,
airports, and other public places accurate?.


6 What is essential hypertension and is it common?.


7 Why is high blood pressure bad and does treatment really
help?.


8 What is the magnitude of the hypertension problem in the
USA?.


9 Is there a personality type that is predisposed to develop
hypertension?.


10 Is essential hypertension, which accounts for about 95% of
the hypertensive population, inherited?.


11 What is mild hypertension?.


12 What are the causes of hypertension?.


13 What is "white coat hypertension"; do I have it and is it
dangerous?.


14 What tests are necessary for evaluating hypertension; what
about an echocardiogram and stress test?.


15 Why is a "renin profile" necessary to treat
hypertension?.


16 Do I need to see a specialist to have my hypertension
treated?.


17 Are measurements of blood pressure at home important in
managing hypertension, and should I have my blood pressure
monitored for 24 hours?.


18 Which blood pressure is more important - systolic or
diastolic?.


19 Is high blood pressure mostly in the arteries or can it also
occur in veins?.


20 Is it normal for blood pressure to increase with age?.


21 Can stress cause hypertension and how can you reduce it?.


22 Does alcohol increase blood pressure; how can I drink if I
have hypertension?.


23 Does high blood pressure occur in children, and should
children and adolescents with essential hypertension be
treated?.


24 Does hypertension affect white and black individuals
differently?.


25 What is malignant hypertension?.


26 Why is essential hypertension called the "silent killer"; is
it a disease?.


27 Can hormones cause hypertension?.


28 Can thyroid disease cause hypertension?.


29 Can hypertension lead to blindness?.


30 Can hypertension lead to dialysis?.


31 Can hypertension cause alzheimer's disease or dementia?.


32 Is hypertension ever familial?.


33 What's the story on salt; how much can I use and what about
salt substitutes?.


34 Is my nervousness caused by too much adrenaline, and can this
be elevating my blood pressure?.


35 What causes a sudden elevation of blood pressure and should
labile blood pressure be treated in persons with normal blood
pressure and those with hypertension?.


36 Should isolated systolic hypertension be treated?.


37 How do you know if you have a secondary cause of
hypertension?.


38 How can you tell if your hypertension is due to a kidney
problem?.


39 If one stays physically with appropriate life-style changes,
can hypertension be prevented or controlled?.


40 What are some of the prescription and over-the-counter drugs
that can elevate blood pressure; what about cold and cough
medications?.


41 What are the major risk factors for developing hypertension,
and what are additional risk factors if you have hypertension?.


42 What are the major risk factors of hypertension and how do
these risk factors increase your chances of disease
complications?.


43 What can I do about risk factors for hypertension?.


44 What is target organ disease and how does its presence
influence treatment?.


45 What are the benefits of exercise and will it lower my blood
pressure?.


46 Is it important for me to lose excess weight if have
hypertension, and what are the reasons and risks of being
overweight?.


47 What is the best way to lose weight and are diet pills
indicated?.


48 What is the best diet to treat and prevent hypertension and
its complications; what are the "mediterranean" and "dash"
diets?.


49 Is garlic or fish oil good for you if your blood pressure or
cholestorol is elevated?.


50 Must I give up smoking because of my hypertension?.


51 What is the best way to quit smoking?.


52 Are atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis the same; what are
their complications and can they cause hypertension?.


53 Should blood pressure be treated differently in men and women
and in african american and white individuals?.


54 Once I start taking medicine for high blood pressure, do I
have to take it forever?.


55 What are some of the common misconceptions about
hypertension?.


56 Can caffeine be harmful and should I give it up if I have
hypertension?.


57 Are premenopausal women protected from heart disease?.


58 Is it safe to take estrogen before and after the menopause if
you have hypertension?.


59 What is preeclampsia (toxemia of pregnancy) and does
hypertension increase my chances of getting it, and how should it
be treated?.


60 If I have hypertension, should I avoid getting pregnant?.


61 Should I limit my activities if I have hypertension?.


62 Are there any foods to avoid if you have hypertension?.


63 If I have diabetes, does that increase my chances of
complications of hypertension?.


64 Will antihypertensive drugs interfere with my mental or
physical activity?.


65 What are the symptoms and signs of a hypertensive
emergency?.


66 When is high blood pressure an emergency or urgency and how
should it be treated?.


67 When are medications indicated for the treatment of
hypertension?.


68 What are the various drugs available for treating
hypertension; how do they work and what are their side effects, and
are generic as good as brand-named drugs?.


69 Are the newer medications better than the old ones?.


70 What medications should I take for my hypertension; when are
certain drugs indicated or contraindicated?.


71 Should I use aspirin if I have hypertension?.


72 What is alternative medicine and is it helpful in treating
hypertension?.


73 Are relaxation and biofeedback techniques effective in
hypertension management?.


74 Are health food supplements and herbs good for you and can
they affect your blood pressure?.


75 What is the placebo effect?.


76 Are vitamins helpful in treating people with hypertension and
hypercholesterolemia; can they be harmful?.


77 Will hypertension or antihypertensive drugs affect my sex
life and what about use of viagra or special food supplements?.


78 Is there any danger that my blood pressure may be reduced too
much with medication?.


79 Is there any danger in changing my antihypertensive
medication?.


80 Why is hypertension sometimes resistant to treatment?.


81 Can hypertension cause pain in my legs when I walk?.


82 What is a heart attack and how is it treated?.


83 What is heart failure; how can it be prevented and
treated?.


84 What is left ventricular hypertrophy?.


85 What is a TIA and how is it treated?.


86 What is a stroke and how is it treated?.


87 What is an aneurysm; can it be caused by hypertension and how
can it be detected and treated?.


88 Are high cholesterol, hypertension, obesity and diabetes
related?.


89 What is "good" and "bad" cholesterol?.


90 Why is my cholesterol elevated; what should it be and should
I try to lower it?.


91 What drugs are available to treat elevated blood cholesterol
and triglycerides; how do they work and what are their side
effects?.


92 Is it possible to prevent coronary artery disease and heart
attacks?.


93 If I am very old, do I need treatment for hypertension or
high cholesterol?.


94 What is homocystein; does it have harmful effects and what
should I do if I have an abnormal amount?.


95 Are high cholesterol and high blood pressure related?.


96 What are antioxidants and should I be taking them?.


97 Why is potassium important in management of
hypertension?.


98 Are calcium and magnesium important in management of
hypertension, and should I ad them to my diet?.


99 What causes low blood pressure; is it harmful, and what are
the symptoms of low blood pressure in case my medication is
excessive?.


100 Where can I get more reliable information about hypertension
and some of its complications?

Reviews

"Doctors William Manger and Ray Gifford Jr. are well-known and
experienced clinicians in the field of hypertension. After many
years of their independent medical practice they have been
confronted by a multitude of questions by their patients. 100
Questions and Answers about Hypertension organizes these
questions and provides, in easy to understand answers, their
considered responses in a non-controversial and straight forward
manner." Edward D. Frohlich, MD, Alton Ochsner Distinguished
Scientist. Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation, Editor-in-Chief,
Hypertension
"With 100 Questions and Answers about Hypertension you,
and your doctor, have what it takes to prevent and control high
blood pressure. We are indebted to Doctors Gifford and Manger, two
outstanding scientists, physicians and teachers for taking the time
to help everyone understand this important health issue." Edward J.
Roccella, PhD, MPH, Coordinator, National High Blood Pressure
Education Program


" This book, written by two experts in the field of hypertension
with almost 100 years of experience between them, is a storehouse
of information that will be useful to all who have (or live with
people who have) high blood pressure. The chapters are brief,
easily understood and thorough in covering every important feature
of this condition. The advice is practical and attainable,
reflecting the authors' immense clinical experience." Norman M.
Kaplan, MD, Professor of Medicine, University of Texas