High blood pressure, or hypertension, damages arteries and leads to cardiovascular problems such as heart attack or stroke. Additional complications include kidney damage or failure, eye problems due to altered blood vessels in the eyes and problems with memory or comprehension. The systolic measurement (top number) indicates the pressure on blood vessels when the heart beats. A systolic reading of 140 or more is considered hypertensive, and is treated the same as combined systolic and diastolic (bottom number) hypertension.
Step 1
Check your blood pressure regularly. Use a blood pressure machine to monitor your readings at home. Patients with "white coat syndrome," experience elevated blood pressure while at the doctor's office. Readings taken at home reveal this and other situational blood pressure trends.
Step 2
Discuss medications for control of high systolic blood pressure with your physician. These options include diuretics to eliminate excess sodium and water, beta blockers that open blood vessels and ACE inhibitors to relax blood vessels and reduce pressure; a combination of drugs that work together to achieve lower readings may also be necessary.
Step 3
Modify your diet and make healthy food choices to control hypertension. Reduce fat intake, add fruits and vegetables and limit sodium. Substitute fruits for high fat, high calorie desserts and snacks; eat vegetables, rice, pasta and dry beans to replace meat as the main portion in meals.
Step 4
Increase physical activity, but consult with your doctor regarding exercise guidelines for cases of extreme hypertension. Limit alcohol, get rest and keep your weight at a healthy level to lower systolic blood pressure.
Step 5
Take dietary supplements that work to reduce blood pressure, such as garlic or Coenzyme Q-10; consult with your physician first, as supplements can interact with medications. Other alternative remedies include mind-body practices like yoga, meditation and deep breathing that help reduce stress levels, thus affecting blood pressure.
Tips and Warnings
- Diastolic pressure, indicated by the second number, fluctuates less than systolic blood pressure and is the usual focus in elevated blood pressure readings. Although isolated systolic hypertension may indicate other health problems, such as anemia, it is considered a more accurate identifier of people who require hypertension treatment than diastolic pressure readings alone.
- High blood pressure is typically asymptomatic; it is imperative to check your blood pressure regularly to avoid complications.
