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There are things you can do to help manage your blood pressure. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Lose weight if your doctor says you should. Being overweight raises your risk of getting high blood pressure. In fact, blood pressure rises as your weight increases. Extra pounds strain the heart. Losing even 10 pounds can help lower your blood pressure.
- Cut back on salt. Your doctor will probably tell you to eat a low-salt or low-sodium diet. Too much sodium can raise blood pressure.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet. This will help you stay at a healthy weight, add flavor to a low-salt diet, and help you feel better overall.
- Be active. Talk with your doctor before starting an exercise program. He or she can help you find an exercise level that’s right and tell you which exercises to avoid. Regular physical activity will make your muscles stronger. This can help you feel better and do your daily tasks more easily. It can also help you stay at a healthy weight.
- Don’t smoke. If you do smoke, try to quit. Smoking raises blood pressure and makes it harder to exercise. It also makes blood more likely to clot. Blood clots put you at risk for heart attacks and stroke. If you smoke, ask your doctor or nurse about medicines that may help you to quit.
- Avoid alcohol. Moderate drinking does not seem to hurt most people. (This means one to two drinks a day for men, or one drink a day for women). But too much alcohol can raise blood pressure. It can harm the liver, brain, and heart. Alcohol is also high in calories and can make weight loss harder.
You’ll also need to watch your symptoms and talk regularly with your doctor.
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