High Blood Pressure Treatment: An Overview
- Losing weight if overweight (losing 10 pounds can help)
- Increasing physical activity (walking 30 minutes per day can help)
- Following a healthy eating plan that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods (see DASH Diet)
- Choosing and preparing foods with less salt and sodium
- Drinking alcoholic beverages in moderation.
If lifestyle changes alone are not sufficient to lower blood pressure, medication may be prescribed.
Blood Pressure Medication
In addition to lifestyle changes, treatment for some people may include
blood pressure medication. There are many types of
high blood pressure medication, and each one works in a slightly different way. People often react to medicine in different ways, so you may need to try a few different types of high blood pressure medication before your doctor finds the best medicine for you.
If your healthcare provider prescribes medication as part of your treatment for high blood pressure, be sure to take your pills exactly as directed. Even if you feel well, you still need to take your medicine. It is impossible to feel the damage that could be occurring inside of your body until it is too late.