Managing High Blood Pressure: Understanding Control & Lifestyle Changes

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a serious health risk that may lead to other conditions like a heart attack or stroke. Although there is no complete cure for high blood pressure, individuals can take several steps to control their hypertension.

Lifestyle

• Smoking is a controllable risk factor for high blood pressure.

  Lifestyle changes that can help reduce blood pressure include eating a healthy diet low in sodium, exercising regularly, reducing stress, quitting smoking and limiting the intake of alcohol, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

Drug Therapy

• When lifestyle changes alone cannot successfully control blood pressure, drug therapy can help. Medications used in treating high blood pressure include alpha and beta blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), calcium channel blockers, central alpha agonists, diuretics, renin inhibitors and vasodilators, according to Medline Plus.

Considerations

• Finding enjoyable exercises makes the process of staying healthy easier.

  Even when a person is on prescription drugs to help manage blood pressure, it is important to still maintain an overall healthy lifestyle.

Identification

• Every individual's blood pressure goals are slightly different, based on varying factors like age and health. An individual should work with her doctor to see what a healthy blood pressure goal is for her.

Warning

• Before beginning a new diet or exercise plan, an individual should first speak to her doctor to find out if she is healthy enough to pursue her plan.