What Do I Need To Know About High Blood Pressure? ~ by John S. Banas, M.D. (NAPSA)—A growing number of people are feeling the pressure to learn more about hypertension, and for good reason. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a significant risk factor for the progression of heart disease. stroke, and CV death in high-risk patients aged 55 or over. For these patients, it was found to reduce the risk of heart attack by 20 percent, CV death by 26 percent and stroke by 32 percent. The drug has * It is estimated _ that one in three ™ adults in the United States has the condition and nearly a third of them don’t know they haveit. Uncontrolled high Dr. Banas blood pressure alone is serious because as blood pressure hypertension. Nearly one-third of those people are unaware that they have the disorder. (CV) disease risk. Combined with other conditions such as diabetes, may be morelikely to have hypertension. Age can also be a factor. increases so does cardiovascular high blood pressure becomes even more significant as it increases the chance of a CV event. It can also lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure, or kidneyfailure. Whatis high blood pressure? Blood pressure measures the force with which blood pushes against the artery walls as it trav- els through the body. Hyperten- sion, or chronically high blood pressure, can cause the heart to work too hard. This can lead to damage of the coronary arteries, the kidneys and the eyes, and is a major cause ofstroke. Whois at risk of developing high blood pressure? The risk for cardiovascular disease doubles for those people who have both diabetes and hypertension. In fact, someone with diabetes can be up to four times more likely also proven the ability to reduce It is estimated that one in three adults in the United States has How is high blood pressure best treated? High blood pressure can be treated with diet, exercise and a variety of different medications. If you have the condition, it is important to work with your health care professional to evaluate your other risk factors, such experiences symptomsof low blood sugar, such as sweating or shaki- ness. Common side effects include persistent dry cough, dizziness, and light-headedness due to low blood pressure. Do not take ALTACE dur- ing pregnancy, as death or injury to your unborn child mayresult How is diabetes related to CV disease and high blood based on youroverall risk profile. Many health care professionals conditions Research indicates that these can amplify one another. The presence of one risk turn to angiotensin-converting- factor is likely to influence the hypertension. ACE inhibitors are designed to block or inhibit the production of a higher your risk of heart disease, enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to treat protein found in the body that causes blood vessels to constrict. ACE inhibitors relax blood ves- sels, making blood flow easier, inactive or drink too much alcohol described as the No. 1 brand name use too muchsalt, are physically drug may not be for everyone. ALTACE may lower blood sugar if taken by patients with diabetes. A physician should be contacted if one pressure? and then select the best treatment tension. Lifestyle can be a factor as well. People who are overweight, ety of risk factors, including hyper- the risk of CV complications associated with diabetes. Studies have shown that this as high cholesterol or diabetes, which can reduce blood pressure. An ACE inhibitor with a history of success in treating hypertension, as well as reducing cardiovascular risk, is ALTACE to develop CV disease due to a vari- in its class prescribed by cardiologists and endocrinologists. Its benefits can extend well beyond blood-pressure reduction. It is the only ACE inhibitor proven to reduce the risk of heart attack, (ramipril) capsules. The drug is development of others. And the more risk factors you have, the diabetes and stroke; however, early treatment of individual risk factors is likely to decrease the risk of developing others. Dr. Banas is a member of many professional organizations and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, the American College of Cardiology, and the Council on Clinical Cardiology of the American Heart Association. To learn more, visit www.altace.com. woe eee eee eee + -- Ot. ------------ eee Note To Editors: About ALTACE. Do not take ALTACE during pregnancy, as death or injury to your unborn child may result, or ifyou have experienced serious side effects related to previous ACE inhibitors. Commonside effects include persistent dry cough, dizziness, and light-headedness due to low blood pressure. Prescription ALTACEis not for everyone. ALTACE may cause swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which could cause extremely serious risk and requires immediate medical care. There have been reports of low blood sugarin patients taking ALTACE with medicine for diabetes. Please contact your doctor ifyou have symptomsof low blood sugar such as sweating or shakiness. Dr. Banasserves as a consultant to King Pharmaceuticals. To learn more, visit www.altace.com.
