Hypertension and You

Old Drugs, New Drugs, and the Right Drugs for Your High Blood Pressure

Samuel J. Mann

Many of the nearly 70 million Americans with hypertension (high blood pressure) would like to bring it under control through lifestyle changes such as losing weight, cutting back on salt, exercising, or reducing stress. But, like it or not, most will require medication to get their blood pressure where it needs to be. The good news is that we have many excellent blood pressure medications which, when prescribed wisely, can control hypertension in almost everyone. The bad news is that, despite good intentions, doctors are placing millions of people who have hypertension on medications, drug combinations, or doses that are wrong for them, with staggering consequences that include uncontrolled hypertension, higher risk for stroke and heart attack, avoidable side effects, and billions of wasted health care dollars.
Here, Dr. Mann, a nationally recognized hypertension specialist, identifies the drugs most likely to have side effects, and those that can be used in their place. He describes the shortcomings of some of the new drugs, while also introducing readers to some excellent old drugs that are woefully underused as a result of the publicity blitz surrounding the new, expensive ones. He emphasizes the importance of matching the medication and dosage to the individual who will be taking them, and presents the overlooked clues that can tell us who should be on which drug (even an excellent drug can be the wrong one if it is given to the wrong person or in the wrong dose). Hypertension and You is directed at the more than 50 million Americans (including a majority of people over the age of 60) who are taking blood pressure medication. Many patients suspect they might be on the wrong medication, but don’t know enough to be sure. This book shows how medications can be prescribed more wisely to achieve better results and gives patients the knowledge they need to capably discuss their medications with their health care providers.
Hypertension and You provides many ideas and approaches that will be new to readers, and also to many physicians, and which no other book offers. It’s the first book to make the case that something is terribly wrong with how doctors are prescribing drugs for this condition. It provides readers with better knowledge of the available medications, empowering them to work with their physician to get onto the medications that are right for them.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 204 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-4422-1517-7 • Paperback • June 2012 • $16.95 • (£12.99)

978-1-4422-1519-1 • eBook • June 2012 • $15.95 • (£11.99)

Subjects: Health & Fitness / Health Care Issues, Medical / Cardiology, Medical / Pharmacology, Medical / Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Hypertension and You

Old Drugs, New Drugs, and the Right Drugs for Your High Blood Pressure

Paperback

eBook

Summary

Many of the nearly 70 million Americans with hypertension (high blood pressure) would like to bring it under control through lifestyle changes such as losing weight, cutting back on salt, exercising, or reducing stress. But, like it or not, most will require medication to get their blood pressure where it needs to be. The good news is that we have many excellent blood pressure medications which, when prescribed wisely, can control hypertension in almost everyone. The bad news is that, despite good intentions, doctors are placing millions of people who have hypertension on medications, drug combinations, or doses that are wrong for them, with staggering consequences that include uncontrolled hypertension, higher risk for stroke and heart attack, avoidable side effects, and billions of wasted health care dollars.
Here, Dr. Mann, a nationally recognized hypertension specialist, identifies the drugs most likely to have side effects, and those that can be used in their place. He describes the shortcomings of some of the new drugs, while also introducing readers to some excellent old drugs that are woefully underused as a result of the publicity blitz surrounding the new, expensive ones. He emphasizes the importance of matching the medication and dosage to the individual who will be taking them, and presents the overlooked clues that can tell us who should be on which drug (even an excellent drug can be the wrong one if it is given to the wrong person or in the wrong dose). Hypertension and You is directed at the more than 50 million Americans (including a majority of people over the age of 60) who are taking blood pressure medication. Many patients suspect they might be on the wrong medication, but don’t know enough to be sure. This book shows how medications can be prescribed more wisely to achieve better results and gives patients the knowledge they need to capably discuss their medications with their health care providers.
Hypertension and You provides many ideas and approaches that will be new to readers, and also to many physicians, and which no other book offers. It’s the first book to make the case that something is terribly wrong with how doctors are prescribing drugs for this condition. It provides readers with better knowledge of the available medications, empowering them to work with their physician to get onto the medications that are right for them.

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 204 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-4422-1517-7 • Paperback • June 2012 • $16.95 • (£12.99)

978-1-4422-1519-1 • eBook • June 2012 • $15.95 • (£11.99)

Subjects: Health & Fitness / Health Care Issues, Medical / Cardiology, Medical / Pharmacology, Medical / Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Author

Samuel J. Mann, M.D., is a Hypertension Specialist and Professor of Clinical Medicine,
New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill-Cornell Medical College. He has written more than 50 scientific articles and book chapters about hypertension. His articles have appeared in top medical journals such as the Journal of the American Medical Association, Annals of Internal Medicine, Archives of Internal Medicine, and American Journal of Medicine; hypertension journals such as Hypertension, Journal of Hypertension, American Journal of Hypertension, and Journal of Clinical Hypertension; and psychology journals including Psychosomatic Medicine and the Journal of Psychosomatic Research. He is the author of Healing Hypertension: A Revolutionary New Approach, which focuses on the mind/body connection in the treatment of high blood pressure. He has commented on medical news related to hypertension on major network television stations, and his appearances have included Earl Ubell’s “Healthwatch” on WCBS and “Good Day New York” on Fox. His work has been featured in many newspapers and magazines including The New York Times, Newsday, Glamour, Longevity, and Bottom Line Health. He has lectured widely to hypertension specialists, general physicians, and to lay audiences.

Table of Contents

Introduction

1: Avoiding Unnecessary Treatment and Overtreatment
2: Planning Successful Drug Therapy by Understanding the Three Main Mechanisms of Hypertension
3: The Diuretics
4: The Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs)
5: The ACEIs, ARBs and DRIs
6: Beta Blockers
7: Alpha-Blockers
8: Other Antihypertensive Drugs
9: Putting It All Together
10: Resistant Hypertension
11: The Mind/Body Connection and Selection of the Right Drugs
12: Secondary Hypertension
13: Treating Hypertension in the Elderly
14: Alcohol, Coffee, and Commonly Used OTC Drugs
15: Exercise and Sex
16: Reducing Medications and Cutting Medication Costs
17: Conclusion

Reviews

A comprehensive manual on hypertension drugs, how to discuss them with your doctor and how to know you've made the best choices....It explains what high blood pressure drugs are, what they do, why you need them and when you don't. It explains doses, signs that you may be over medicated, age and gender differences, and how to avoid side effects and control costs.
— St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Samuel J. Mann’s new book provides a clear, concise, and easy to read approach to ensure that patients have a proper diagnosis of hypertension and receive the right medication to handle it. The book is a valuable ‘quick read’ for the busy primary care physician and for anyone with high blood pressure. I applaud Sam for putting such a practical book together.
— George Bakris, MD, director, ASH/U Chicago Hypertension Center, Chicago, IL

Hypertension and You by Dr. Samuel Mann is a highly readable guide for our patients on the ins and outs of blood pressure treatment. The book distinguishes itself by its lucid approach to an increasingly complex issue. I congratulate the author for his wise counsel and encourage all hypertensive patients to heed it for a longer, healthier and happier life.
— Franz H. Messerli, MD, FACC, FACP, professor of clinical medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Division of Cardiology, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital

Hypertension and You: Old Drugs, New Drugs, and the Right Drugs for Your High Blood Pressure is a read for those already taking blood pressure medication - and is the first book to maintain that there's something very wrong with how doctors are prescribing drugs for it. Many patients can suspect they might be on the wrong medication, and Dr. Mann, a nationally recognized hypertension specialist, identifies those drugs likely to have side affects, and what can be used instead. Pros and cons of all commonly-used drugs are discussed with an eye to fine-tuning results for a better life. Any consumer or general health holding will find this a top pick helping identify hypertension issues and how to handle treatments.
— California Bookwatch