Blood pressure: What you can do for yourself
Studies consistently show that lowering blood pressure significantly lowers the risk of stroke and also, though less dramatically, the risk of heart attacks, heart failure and kidney problems. Drugs may be necessary sometimes, especially when blood pressure is dangerously high, but other things can help. Maybe you need to exercise a little harder and eat a little less (or sleep a little longer and stress a little less). As you read, bear in mind: The evidence for blood pressure-lowering is stronger for some lifestyle measures than others.
-- Articles by Karen Ravn
- 1
Blood circulating through your body moves with a certain force -- that’s your blood pressure.
- 2
DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, an eight-week clinical trial, reported in 1997, that tested the effects of three diets on 459 adults.
- 3
Everybody needs salt, but health experts generally agree that most Americans get too much of it.
- 4
Results haven’t been unanimous, but a good deal of research suggests that healthy doses of potassium can help lower your blood pressure.
- 5
Dozens of studies have reported a link between exercise and lowered blood pressure: Some have found reductions of up to 10 mm Hg (systolic) and 6 to 10 mm Hg (diastolic) blood pressure units in people who already have hypertension.
- 6
It’s wise to pay attention to your blood pressure -- but don’t lose sleep over it.
- 7
Everyone agrees that stressful situations make your blood pressure take off.
- 8
As people gain weight, their blood pressure tends to go up.
- 9
Is having a bad habit ever a good thing?
- 10
So how much good will it do if you get more exercise, consume less salt, ramp up on potassium, eat the DASH way, give up smoking, take up meditation?
- 11
Various causes can dictate the type of medication. But there is debate about what’s best to try first or to combine.
- 12
Some high blood pressure patients do all the right things -- make every recommended lifestyle choice, take their drugs completely as prescribed -- and they still can’t get their blood pressure down.
