If your blood pressure problem has advanced to this stage the prescribed treatment of high blood pressure medications will probably be raised to a more aggressive one, usually a combination of drugs to try and lower it.

Before I continue with this page, it is important that stage 2 hypertension is not confused with secondary hypertension, or stage 1 hypertension confused with primary or essential hypertension. They are often confused and interpreted by people who do not know what they are writing about.

For some people who have only just discovered that they have high blood pressure at this second level, their doctor may still prescribe an aggressive treatment or a milder treatment depending on the patients health record, but doing so along with recommended lifestyle and diet changes.

According to the INSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENT (ICSI) Health Care Guidelines intended primarily for health professionals and other professionals related to the field of health such as educational institutions, researchers, and local Government health care policy makers, stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension should not be treated until an initial health assessment has been done. After establishing that there is persistent elevated hypertension and there is no secondary cause suspected, then drug therapy can be given. This is classed as primary hypertension or essential hypertension. If a secondary cause is suspected, then arrangements will be made for tests to be carried out by a specialist.

A doctor should ask his patient to return for assessment of his progress at least once a month to see if the set blood pressure goal has been reached or not. There will either be a reduction of meds, or a continuation of the same meds if the patient has reached the goal, or an increase or change in drug combination if he has not managed it.

What combination medication your doctor will prescribe for stage 2 hypertension will depend on whether you have primary or secondary hypertension although primary (unknown) can change to secondary (a cause like atherosclerosis). Some causes are thyroid, kidney, heart or other organ problems.

A combination of the renin inhibitor, aliskiren, and the angiotensin receptor blocker, valsartan, work better in a combo pill than as separate pills for those with very high blood pressure like stage 2. Now there are also triple combination pills. A triple combo of Olmesartan Medoxomil and angiotensin II receptor blocker, with Amlodipine a calcium channel blocker, and Hydrochlorothiazide a diuretic; and a triple combo of the renin inhibitor Rasilez with, a calcium channel blocker, and a hydrochlorothiazide.

Just as doctors have guidelines when to use aggressive treatments, so also if you want to use herbs there are some that are very strong. It is a common belief that people think herbs are not dangerous, but there are hundreds of potent herbs that need to be taken with caution. If you want to use herbs consult a qualified herbalist.

Many strong hypertension herbs are scientifically documented as being effective. Some of them are hawthorn, garlic, olive leaf extract, Rauwolfia Serpentina, and Danshen. There are more but these are common ones to mention.

There are also natural diuretics and natural vasodilators. Some are very powerful while some are mild. If you are already taking medication for stage 2 hypertension you need to tell your doctor if you intend to use herbs. He will let you know what the contraindications are if any between those meds and any herb. You can also search and get hold of this knowledge yourself if your doctor is biased against natural medicine.

Last but least of all you can take control of your diet. The DASH diet is one of the best hypertension diets which has menu`s compiled and selected for people with high blood pressure.