How Can I Control High Blood Pressure Without Gaining Weight?

Controlling hypertension, or high blood pressure, is essential to good health. After all, failing to get blood pressure to normal levels can cause a host of problems, including stroke, heart attack and kidney disease. Many people take medication to get their hypertension under control; however, some of these medications cause weight gain, which will in turn drive up blood pressure, causing a vicious cycle.

Physical Assessment

• The best place to start is with a full physical assessment of your overall health, including any other underlying diseases or conditions that might be contributing to your hypertension. Have your doctor do a full physical and blood workup so you have a base. Then, you and your doctor should lay out a plan to get the hypertension under control quickly to avoid causing any further damage to your heart or other vital organs. This plan should focus on weight loss, if that is part of the issue, and include a way to get hypertension under control without gaining any more weight. Ask as many questions as you need to ensure you have a full understanding of your condition.

Diet and Exercise

• Regular exercise and a healthy diet is the key to controlling high blood pressure, while preventing any additional weight gain. It is important to get in a good cardiovascular workout of at least 30 minutes, three to four times per week. Accomplish this by walking, jogging or joining a gym. Physical activity is the main catalyst for controlling blood pressure and avoiding weight gain at the same time. Moreover, follow a diet high in vegetables, fruits, grains and protein, while avoiding sugars, saturated fats, high amounts of sodium and processed foods. The more healthy your diet and the more frequently you exercise, the easier it will be to control your hypertension and avoid additional weight gain.

Medications

• Many medications can be prescribed to control high blood pressure. However, with many of these medication options, adverse side effects can occur and while they are generally mild, some may include weight gain. In addition to sticking with a strict diet and exercise regimen, also closely monitor side effects and report any, such as weight gain, to your doctor. This will enable him to switch your medication to another brand that might have fewer side effects.