How to Treat Hypertention

Hypertension, also called high blood pressure, is a serious condition that increases your risk of heart attack, stroke and other troubles of the heart and blood vessels. Doctors can detect it easily during a routine check-up, and they often recommend diet and exercise to bring high blood pressure back down to safe levels. But some patients' high blood pressure doesn't respond to lifestyle changes and requires a prescription or a combination of medications.

Things You'll Need

• Home blood-pressure testing kit

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Instructions

• 1

  See your doctor. High blood pressure produces no symptoms until it is advanced and dangerous. This is why doctors or their staff check your blood pressure every time you visit. You should have your blood pressure checked at least once every two years past the age of 20.

• 2

  Eat healthy. People with high blood pressure should limit their intake of sodium and alcohol. A good blood-pressure diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy. It limits meat, saturated fat and processed foods.

• 3

  Quit smoking. Tobacco is harmful to the walls of your blood vessels, and it promotes hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis.)

• 4

  Exercise. Working out lowers your blood pressure. How much exercise you do depends on how fit you are to do it, but as a general rule, the Mayo Clinic recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day.

• 5

  Relax. Stress management is key to keeping your blood pressure under control. Practice deep breathing and muscle relaxation, or take a yoga class. Yoga combines breathing, exercise and meditation, and can be superb for lowering blood pressure.

• 6

  Continue checking your blood pressure. Schedule follow-up visits with your doctor, and use a home sphygmomater (blood-pressure testing cuff) to keep track of your progress. If diet and exercise fail to bring your blood pressure down to safe levels, your doctor may prescribe medications as part of your treatment plan.