2) Stage 1 hypertension
Hypertension stage 1 (130-139/80-89 mm Hg):
At this stage, your doctor may continue recommending a healthy lifestyle alone or with some medications.
Therapeutic plans at this stage depend on:
- The risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVDs), such as heart failure, which is calculated by the atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease calculator.
- The presence of other diseases, such as kidney diseases or diabetes.
If your risk of ASCVDs isn’t high, and you don’t have other diseases, your doctor may continue recommending a healthy lifestyle alone without drugs and recheck your blood pressure every 3 months.
However, if your risk of ASCVDs is high, and you have other diseases, your doctor will likely use a single medication along with lifestyle changes and reassess your blood pressure every month.
The most effective medication at this stage is a thiazide (diuretic), which increases urine output and prevents salt and water retention, thus decreasing your blood pressure. It’s an effective and cheap drug with limited side effects.
Older people during this stage may start their treatment with medications and a healthy lifestyle, even in the absence of the high-risk of ASCVDs or other diseases.
