Final answer:
Hypertension is managed through lifestyle changes and a range of antihypertensive medications, with a stepped care approach often implemented to achieve target blood pressure levels. Advanced cases may require surgical interventions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Treating hypertension (HTN), whether chronic or as pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), is crucial to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including stroke. Key lifestyle interventions for managing hypertension include dietary adjustments to reduce salt intake and adopting a healthier diet, weight loss, smoking cessation, and regular physical exercise. Additionally, several classes of antihypertensive medications are available, which may be prescribed depending on individual needs and conditions. These medications include thiazide diuretics, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). Drugs used to treat or improve symptoms of cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension, like ACE inhibitors, block the ACE enzyme from converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II, effectively reducing the ability to increase blood pressure.
For patients not reaching target blood pressure levels, a stepped care approach may be implemented, often requiring a combination of medications to control hypertension effectively. In more advanced cases, and where lifestyle changes and medication aren't enough, interventions such as angioplasty or bypass surgery may be necessary.