1. Samples Provide Answers
Determining the cause of secondary hypertension may be as simple as having your doctor draw a blood sample. A lab will examine your blood or urine specimens to see whether they contain the correct levels of hormones, like adrenaline. Some blood tests are required to assess the function of your kidneys. If kidney function levels are off, you'll undergo further tests to determine if you have kidney problems, such as cysts or tumors. You also may be tested to determine if the blood supply to your kidneys is blocked. A certain imbalance of minerals, checked easily with urine and blood samples, also may cause your blood pressure to be off.
2. Get Plenty of Rest
If you have trouble sleeping, or you wake up tired after a full nights rest, and you have high blood pressure, ask your doctor about a sleep study. People with sleep apnea have up to a 50 percent greater risk for developing high blood pressure. The study will be performed at a sleep clinic, where you'll stay overnight for monitoring, which includes breathing rate, heart rate and blood pressure tracking. During your stay, you might find it difficult to sleep with the wires and monitoring equipment, but this test is not invasive and has no long-term effects. The study could determine whether you need a device to keep your airway open while you sleep, which may save your life. People with sleep apnea-induced hypertension also generally see lower blood pressure readings after receiving this treatment.
3. The Dangers of Pills
Many medications, including Vioxx which was removed from the market for its hypertensive impact, can raise your blood pressure. Drugs like Celebrex that may raise blood pressure must carry warnings on their product labels. You can research the hypertension risks of every drug you take on websites like The Drugs.com, which provides an A to Z listing of all prescription medications and lists of their common uses and side effects. Talk to your doctor about discontinuing or replacing drugs that may cause high blood pressure and other problems.
