A recent report by the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure tried to answer these questions by consensus. Hypertension is defined as a systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or more, a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or more, or the taking of antihypertensive medicines. Hypertension appears to be a multifactorial disorder in which the interaction of several genetic tendencies and the environment is important. Other diagnostic laboratory tests suggested include urinalysis, complete blood count, blood chemistry, and a 12 lead electrocardiogram.
Lifestyle modification is the mainstay reccomendation to prevent and to treat hypertension.
Also an adequate daily intake of potassium, calcium and magnesium. Estrogen replacement therapy during the menopause is usually the same as with oral contraceptives, no change to a very slight increase. High blood pressure during pregnancy is an entirely different category and has it's own unique categories and treatments. Initial treatments for hypertension depend upon the stage of blood pressure elevation and risk factors such as weight, alcohol use, physical activity, and smoking along with risk for cardiovascular disease such as diabetes, or any history of existing target organ damage to the heart, vascular system or kidneys.