Final answer:
Hypertension involves modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors and requires management through lifestyle changes and medication. Common medications include thiazide diuretics, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs. Unmanaged hypertension can result in severe complications like stroke and heart disease.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Hypertension and Its Risk Factors
When reviewing modifiable versus nonmodifiable risk factors for hypertension, it is important to distinguish between those that can be altered through lifestyle changes or medical intervention, and those that are inherent and unchangeable. Modifiable risk factors include obesity, physical inactivity, excess dietary salt, and alcohol consumption. Nonmodifiable risk factors comprise genetic background, family history of cardiovascular disease, and age.
Management and Treatment of Hypertension
How is hypertension managed/treated? Management includes lifestyle modifications such as reducing salt intake, eating a healthier diet, regular exercising, and avoiding tobacco smoke. Many individuals with hypertension will also require medication.
Medications Prescribed for Hypertension
The main classes of medications often prescribed to manage HTN include thiazide diuretics, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs, which might be used alone or in combination to control blood pressure effectively.
Complications of Unmanaged Hypertension
Without proper management, hypertension can lead to serious cardiovascular diseases, with complications of hypertension including stroke, atherosclerosis, heart failure, and kidney damage among others.