I would like to know in terms of a newer diagnosis of mild hypertension, how long should one wait before going to medications- to look at diet and exercise. For example should you do three, six or even twelve months before you turn to medication if these things don't help it or should you go to medication earlier. Mild hypertension is not necessarily benign hypertension.
Mild hypertension is associated with increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and so forth.
And the vast majority of hypertensive patients in America have mild hypertension not severe hypertension. So, it's an important question that you raised. Actually the decision on when to treat and how to treat the mild hypertensive patient is rather controversial. In Europe patients are not treated unless their diastolic pressures are over 100. In the United States we have a lower threshold for treating hypertension, mild hypertension.