It controls the expansion and contraction of blood vessels, and thus blood pressure, by regulating the amount of nitric oxide to which the vessels are exposed. Individuals with high blood pressure can be given medication to lower their blood pressure. Mild cases of blood pressure can be treated through behavior modification like changing diet and increasing exercise. More severe cases of hypertension require medications like diuretics and beta blockers. Diuretics rid the body of excess fluids and salt.
Beta blockers reduce the heart rate and the heart's output of blood.
As many as 50 million Americans aged 6 and older have high blood pressure. Of those people with high blood pressure, 31.6 percent don't know they have it. People with lower educational and income levels also tend to have higher levels of blood pressure. In the early and middle adult years, men have high blood pressure more often than women. But as men and women age, the reverse is true.