Hypertension Prevention & Treatment

How to Prevent Against This

Some people can effectively prevent hypertension through lifestyle modifications and behavioral changes. By reducing stress, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol use, and following a well balanced diet, you may be able to effectively lower your blood pressure.

If you are overweight, you may be able to lower your blood pressure by reducing your body weight. Maintaining a regular aerobic exercise routine can also have positive effects on blood pressure. Exercise does not necessarily need to be high intensity. Even walking can improve blood flow enough to control high blood pressure.

Relaxation techniques can help reduce stress. Common practices include mindbody relaxation and controlled breathing. Lowering lights and quieting loud sounds can help facilitate relaxation in order to reduce stress.

Diet Tips

If you have a family or personal history of hypertension, a doctor might decide to put you on a high blood pressure diet as part of a preventative effort or treatment plan. A high blood pressure diet should be customized for the needs of the specific individual since patients may have a variety of health conditions. Here are some tips to help plan your high blood pressure diet:

Reduce sugar intake.

Reduce sodium intake as much as possible. You can even consider using a substitute for salt. When using a salt substitute, you should make sure that there are no safety warnings or manufacturer recalls.

A diet that is low in saturated fat can help treat hypertension.

Lower tobacco consumption by quitting smoking. Smoking does not necessarily cause hypertension, but when coupled with hypertension, smoking can cause additional complications such as heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes.

Limit alcohol.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has found that the DASH diet (dietary approaches to stop hypertension) can help lower blood pressure. This diet includes fruits, vegetables, and foods that are low in fat or fat-free.

Treatment & Relief Methods

In general, doctors will encourage hypertension patients to adopt lifestyle changes before prescribing medication. Patients might benefit from adopting the DASH diet or by increasing exercise. Generally, these relief methods are most effective when blood pressure is slightly high.

Some patients will need to start medications. Some doctors advocate prescribing medications based on thresholds or guidelines. Doctors may choose to monitor the effects of lifestyle changes and dietary adjustments using biofeedback devices. These biofeedback devices can help doctors develop ideal and customized dosage levels.

Medications that are used to control hypertension include ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, calcium channel blockers, and diuretics. A doctor may choose to prescribe one drug or a combination of drugs. A doctor will closely monitor patients who use prescription medicines.