Methods for Lowering Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of heart and kidney disease. According to the National Institutes of Health, high blood pressure increases the risk of stroke and heart attack. High blood pressure symptoms often are non-existent until a medical event occurs. In addition to medication, lifestyle changes can lower high blood pressure.

Lose Weight

• Losing weight if a patient is obese, can play a significant role in lowering blood pressure. The body must work overtime to carry excess weight.

Exercise

• Aerobic exercise can help to strengthen the heart so that it can operate more efficiently. Mild cardiovascular exercise, done for 30 minutes a day, according to a doctor's directions, can drastically reduce high blood pressure.

Limit Salt

• Salt intake plays a big part in high blood pressure. Salt consumption should not exceed 2,000 milligrams per day, equal to about 1 teaspoon, which includes salt that has already been added to processed foods.

Diet

• Reports show that a diet based on fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help to reduce high blood pressure. Fats, red meats and sugar should be eliminated or greatly reduced.

Alcohol

• Alcohol abuse contributes to high blood pressure as well. Alcohol consumption should be limited to one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.

Stress

• Continual stress will affect blood pressure. While the body is designed to deliver spikes in the blood pressure during times of immediate stress, it cannot maintain those levels for any length of time without harm being done to the heart and blood vessels.