A CRITICAL REVIEW ON ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO LIFESTYLE AND PHARMACOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22159/prl.ijayush.v15i06%20(June).2096Keywords:
Essential Hypertension, Lifestyle Modification, Pharmacological Management, Blood Pressure Control, Cardiovascular Risk, Antihypertensive Drugs.Abstract
Essential hypertension is one of the most common non-communicable disorders and remains a major risk factor for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and renal complications. It is usually multifactorial in origin, where genetic tendency, advancing age, obesity, high salt intake, sedentary lifestyle, stress, smoking, alcohol consumption, and unhealthy dietary habits play an important role. In most cases, no single identifiable cause is found, which makes long-term prevention and control highly dependent on lifestyle correction and regular medical management. Lifestyle modification is considered the first and most important step in the management of essential hypertension. Weight reduction, regular physical activity, salt restriction, balanced diet, stress control, adequate sleep, avoidance of tobacco, and moderation of alcohol intake help in reducing blood pressure and improving overall cardiovascular health. Along with lifestyle measures, pharmacological management is required in many patients to achieve proper blood pressure control and prevent target organ damage. Commonly used antihypertensive drugs include diuretics, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and beta-blockers, selected according to patient condition, associated diseases, age, and risk profile. A combined approach of lifestyle correction and suitable pharmacological therapy gives better long-term results than either approach alone. This review highlights the importance of early diagnosis, patient education, regular monitoring, lifestyle discipline, and rational drug therapy in the effective management of essential hypertension.References
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