How to Lower Blood Pressure

With approximately 65 million people suffering from the condition, many people want to know how to lower blood pressure. Learning how to lower blood pressure can reduce the long-term effects of hypertension. Strategies to lower blood pressure include lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, exercising more, and quitting smoking. In some cases, medications are used to lower blood pressure.

 

How to Lower Blood Pressure: An Introduction

Anyone can develop high blood pressure (also known as hypertension). In fact, 1 in 3 Americans (more than 65 million people) have high blood pressure. Unfortunately, in more than 90 percent of cases, the causes of high blood pressure are not known. But hypertension research scientists have found certain lifestyle changes that can lower blood pressure. For those people who cannot lower blood pressure to a normal level through lifestyle changes, blood pressure medication can be prescribed.
 
By lowering blood pressure, people can reduce the long-term effects of high blood pressure, including:
 
 

How to Lower Blood Pressure by Making Lifestyle Changes

Lifestyle changes are the first step in high blood pressure treatment.
 Lifestyle changes help lower blood pressure, but they usually help improve a person's quality of life as well. It may take three to six months before your healthcare provider sees the full benefit of lifestyle changes on your condition. Some of these changes may include:
 
  • Increasing your physical activity
  • Losing weight
  • Minimizing your salt (and sodium) intake
  • Cutting back on your alcohol consumption
  • Adopting a healthy eating plan that emphasizes fruits and vegetables while reducing fats and cholesterol.
     
Other factors that may affect blood pressure and that should be reduced or stopped completely include prolonged stress and smoking (see Stress and High Blood Pressure or Smoking and High Blood Pressure).
(How to Lower Blood Pressure Continued: Page 2)
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD