Medical

High Blood Pressure

Control Your Risk Factors

Treating high blood pressure almost always includes making lifestyle changes to help to control your risk factors. Controlling risk factors can reduce your risks for heart disease, heart attack and stroke, so it's important to follow your healthcare professional's recommendations carefully. Sometimes, when lifestyle changes aren't enough to control high blood pressure, your doctor will also prescribe medication.

Lose weight if you're overweight. Many people with high blood pressure are also overweight. Fatty tissue requires a lot of blood to feed it. If your doctor recommends that you lose weight, you can work with other healthcare professionals such as registered dieticians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, etc., to get started on the right diet for you. Losing weight will reduce the strain on your heart, and often weight loss will cause your blood pressure to drop. If you're given a diet, follow it closely, including suggestions about reducing how much alcohol you drink. Alcoholic drinks are low in nutrients and high in calories, so if you're trying to lose weight, avoid them.

Get regular physical activity. Lack of physical activity not only may contribute to obesity — it's been proven to increase your risk for heart attack and stroke. Regular physical activity is defined by the American Heart Association as moderate to vigorous exercise 30–60 minutes a day on most days of the week. Physical activity should definitely be a part of your life. Don't be afraid to be active. It's always best to consult your doctor before beginning a new activity program.

Avoid excessive alcohol. Some studies say that drinking more than 3 to 4 ounces of 80-proof alcohol per day will raise blood pressure. A person with high blood pressure can usually drink alcohol in moderation. Limit your alcohol consumption to no more than 1–2 drinks a day. If you're on a weight-reduction diet, remember that alcohol is high in calories.

Stop smoking. Smoking is another key risk factor for heart attack and stroke.

Manage your stress. Relaxing for short periods during your workday, at night and on weekends also may help lower your blood pressure. Stress can lead you to increased smoking, alcohol consumption, overeating and other activities that increase your risk for heart attack and stroke. A great stress-buster is getting the amount of regular physical activity recommended by the American Heart Association.

Decrease sodium (salt) intake. Most Americans eat far more sodium than they need, and less sodium has proven to help lower blood pressure in some people. Your doctor may recommend a low-salt diet if your blood pressure is too high. This means you'll have to avoid salty foods and cut down on how much salt you use in cooking and at the table. Start reading package labels regularly to learn about the sodium content of prepared foods. You'll also discover that herbs and spices give food flavor and avoid the risk of high-sodium intake.

Eat for heart health. The American Heart Association Nutrition Committee recommends that you avoid a high intake of salt and eat enough fruits, vegetables, fat-free and low-fat dairy products. Such diets are rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium and protein, and low in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol. Make Healthy Food Choices...

Discuss the use of oral contraceptives with your doctor. The incidence of high blood pressure isn’t directly related to a person’s sex. However, doctors usually keep a close watch on a woman’s blood pressure during pregnancy or if she’s taking oral contraceptives. Some women who've never had high blood pressure develop it during pregnancy. Similarly, a woman taking oral contraceptives is more likely to develop high blood pressure if she’s overweight, has had high blood pressure during pregnancy, has a family history of high blood pressure or has mild kidney disease.

Discuss the use of some medications with your doctor. Some other medications also can raise blood pressure and/or interfere with the effectiveness of drugs used against high blood pressure. People with high blood pressure should tell their doctor all of the prescribed and over-the-counter medicines they're taking. These include such drugs as steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), nasal decongestants and other cold remedies, diet pills, cyclosporine, erythropoetin, tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors.