High blood pressure (BP) or hypertension is often called the “silent killer” because you may not know you have it and you can live for many years without any symptoms. In fact, the term “hypertension” has nothing to do with feeling “hyper” or “tense.” You can feel calm and still have high BP.
And just because you cannot feel high BP, does not mean it's not serious. If left untreated or uncontrolled, high BP can cause:
The good news is there is medicine that can help you lower more than just your high BP (click here).
What is High BP?
“Blood pressure” is the force in your blood vessels when your heart beats (top number) and when your heart rests (bottom number). BP that remains high over time is called high BP or hypertension. Discuss with your doctor what your BP should be.
What causes high BP?
Blood vessels are a lot like pipes. The pressure inside blood vessels can increase for 2 main reasons:
- Extra fluid in your blood vessels
- Narrow or clogged blood vessels
How does high BP affect your body?
Over time, high BP can strain your heart and damage your blood vessels. Changes in the vessels that supply blood to your kidneys and brain may cause these organs to be affected. Even though you may not feel the affects of high BP for a long time, that does not mean it's not hurting you.
High BP is a major risk factor for stroke, heart attack, and heart and kidney disease.
More than 75% of people who have their first stroke also have high BP.
COZAAR is proven to:
- Lower high blood pressure (BP)
- If you have high BP, COZAAR can help relax your blood vessels and lower your BP
- Lower the chance of stroke
- If you have high BP and a heart problem called left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), COZAAR can reduce your chance of having a stroke. COZAAR may not help black patients lower their chance of having a stroke.
- COZAAR is the only medicine in its class proven to lower the chance of stroke.
- Slow the worsening of kidney disease
- If you have type 2 diabetes with decreased kidney function and you have high BP, COZAAR can delay the development of serious kidney disease.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Do not take COZAAR if you are allergic to any of the ingredients of COZAAR. (See Patient Product Information for a complete list of ingredients.)
Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant or if you are breast-feeding, it is not known if COZAAR passes into your breast milk. You should choose either to take COZAAR or breast-feed, but not both. You should also tell your doctor if you are vomiting a lot or having a lot of diarrhea, have liver problems, or have kidney problems.
Possible serious side effects of COZAAR include injury or death to your unborn baby, allergic reaction, low blood pressure, and a worsening of kidney function in people who already have kidney problems.
COZAAR may cause the following side effects that may be serious:
- Injury or death of unborn babies.
- Allergic reaction. Symptoms of an allergic reaction are swelling of the face, lips, throat, or tongue. Get emergency medical help right away and stop taking COZAAR.
- Low blood pressure (hypotension). Low blood pressure may cause you to feel faint or dizzy. Lie down if your feel faint or dizzy. Call your doctor right away.
- For people who already have kidney problems, you may see a worsening in how well your kidneys work. Call your doctor if you get swelling in your feet, ankles, or hands, or unexplained weight gain.
The most common side effects of COZAAR in people with high blood pressure are colds (upper respiratory infection), dizziness, stuffy nose, and back pain.
The most common side effects of COZAAR in people with type 2 diabetes with diabetic kidney disease are diarrhea, tiredness, low blood sugar, chest pain, high blood potassium, and low blood pressure.
Do not take COZAAR if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. COZAAR can harm your unborn baby causing injury and even death. Stop taking COZAAR if you become pregnant and call your doctor right away.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Patient Product Information and physician Prescribing Information.
COZAAR is a registered trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Delaware, USA.