The goal of therapy for high blood pressure, hypertension, is to maintain a blood pressure of less than 140/90 and even less in people with diabetes and kidney disease according to the National Heart Lung Blood Institute. When patients are first diagnosed with high blood pressure frequently their physicians will recommend lifestyle changes in order to bring the pressure down.
DASH
DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The National Heart Lung Blood Insititute, NHLBI, first published the results of this feeding study in the "New England Journal of Medicine," April 17, 1997. Participants who ate a diet low in saturated fats, total fat and cholesterol were able to lower their blood pressure. The DASH diet is an eating plan that emphasizes fruits, vegetables and low fat dairy products.
The NHBLI followed this study with another that examined the effects of sodium, salt, in the diet on high blood pressure. This study compared lowering sodium in both the DASH diet and the regular American diet. The findings of this study were published in the "New England Journal of Medicine," Janurary 4, 2001. The results of this study showed that by decreasing the sodium intake in both diets, blood pressure could be lowered. But the greatest decrease in blood pressure was with the DASH diet and a sodium intake of 1500mg a day.
Weight loss and Physical Activity
The National Heart Lung Blood Institute recommends maintaining a healthy weight to lower blood pressure. Obesity increases the chances of other diseases as well, such as heart disease and diabetes. By losing just 10 pounds, a patient can reduce blood pressure. People who have hypertension will benefit the most from losing weight.
Patients trying to lose weight should also add physical activity to their daily regimens. Thirty to 60 minutes of aerobic activity on most days of the week can lower blood pressure by 4 to 9 millimeters of mercury according to MayoClinic.com. A patient with prehypertension can prevent full hypertension with the addition of physical activity. Pre-hypertension is a blood pressure greater than 120/80.
Smoking and Alcohol
Smoking injures the lining of the arteries and makes them stiff. Blood pressure is the measure of how hard the heart has to beat against inflexible arteries in order to pump blood to the system. According to MayoClinic.com, nicotine also raises blood pressure for up to an hour every time a smoker lights up. This constant elevation of blood pressure can lead to serious medical problems.
Alcohol has the ability to raise blood pressure if consumed in quantity. MayoClinic.com recommends only one drink a day for women and only two drinks a day for men. More than that has the potential to raise blood pressure. Alcohol also contains unnecessary calories, which can make it difficult to lose weight.
References
- National Heart Lung Blood Institute. Treatments: Guide to Lowering High Blood Pressure.
- NEJM.A Clinical Trial of the Effects of Dietary Patterns on Blood Pressure. April 17, 19997.
- National Heart Lung Blood Institute. Healthy Weight
- MayoClinic.com.Ten ways to control high blood pressure without medication.
- NEJM. Effects on Blood Pressure of Reduced Dietary Sodium and the DASH diet.January 4, 2001
