Treatment for high blood pressure may include lifestyle changes, medicines or both.
Treatment for high blood pressure may include lifestyle changes, medicines or both.
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is increased pressure in your arteries. Eventually, this increased pressure can cause your arteries to become scarred, thickened, hardened and less elastic. This makes it harder for your heart to pump blood through your body. Over time, this condition can cause life-threatening damage to your arteries and heart.
Treatment may include lifestyle changes, medicines or both.
Your daily habits are key to managing high blood pressure.
When your weight increases, so does your blood pressure. If you are overweight, even losing 10 pounds may help to lower your blood pressure to healthy levels or prevent the need for medicines.
Losing weight and keeping it off means a change in eating habits. Avoid crash or fad diets. The healthiest way to lose weight is to do so slowly. Eat a variety of foods and choose foods low in calories to lose weight in a healthy way.
Sodium in salt and salty foods makes your body hold in fluid. That may increase the volume of your blood and, in turn, raise your blood pressure. Studies show that cutting back on salt lowers blood pressure in some people.
Being physically active will benefit you in many ways. It may help you lose weight, help lower your risk of heart disease, help lower your cholesterol and help lower your blood pressure.
Before you start an exercise program, check with your health care team, especially if you have high blood pressure and have not been active in the past.
If you have diabetes, make sure you follow your treatment plan. Keep your blood sugar at the appropriate levels. If you have diabetes and high blood pressure, your risk of heart disease, stroke or other complications goes up.
Even if you're healthy, alcohol can raise your blood pressure. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means no more than one drink a day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men.
One drink equals 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor.
Tobacco can harm blood vessel walls and speed up the process of buildup of plaque in the arteries. If you smoke, ask your care team to help you quit.
Long-term emotional stress can contribute to high blood pressure. To reduce stress, practice healthy coping techniques, such as muscle relaxation, deep breathing or meditation. Getting regular physical activity and plenty of sleep can help, too.
If you can't control your blood pressure with lifestyle changes alone, you may need to take one or more medicines.
Most people who take medicines for high blood pressure have few or no side effects. However, finding the right medicine or combination of medicines may take time and patience.
Medicines and their use in high blood pressure: