The goal of hypertension treatment is to reduce blood pressure so that you have a lower risk of complications. Most of the time, high blood pressure can be controlled with medicine and lifestyle changes. Your doctor may tell you to exercise, lose weight, and follow a healthier diet. If you have pre-hypertension, your doctor will recommend the same lifestyle changes to bring your blood pressure down to normal range.

There are several types of drugs used to treat hypertension, including:

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
• Angiotensin || receptor blockers (ARBs)
• Diuretics
• Beta-blockers
• Calcium channel blockers

Diuretics are usually recommended as the first line of therapy for most people who have hypertension. If one drug doesn't work or is disagreeable, other types of diuretics are available. However, your doctor may start a medicine other than a diuretic as the first line of therapy if you have certain medical problems. For example, ACE inhibitors are often a good choice for a people with diabetes.
If your blood pressure is more than 20/10 mmHg higher than it should be, your doctor may consider starting you on two drugs.

After starting antihypertensive drug therapy, you should see your doctor at least once a month until the blood pressure goal is reached. Once or twice a year, your doctor will check your serum potassium (diuretics can lower this, and ACE inhibitors and ARBs may increase this) and magnesium and BUN/creatinine levels (to check the health of the kidneys). After the blood pressure goal is reached, you should continue to see your doctor every three to six months, depending on whether other diseases such as heart failure are present.