Heart disease is the leading cause of death for Americans, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. One of the risk factors for heart disease is high blood pressure, so this condition should be treated, which involves dietary and lifestyle changes and sometimes additional medication.
High Blood Pressure
Being overweight, eating a diet high in salt or low in vitamin D or potassium, age, race, family history, drinking alcohol to excess, smoking, stress and not being physically active can all contribute to your risk for high blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is defined as having blood pressure levels higher than 120/80 mm Hg, and as the numbers rise the level of hypertension diagnosed also rises.
Recommended Dietary Changes
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH, diet is recommended for those who have high blood pressure (see Resources), according to the National Institutes of Health. This diet involves limiting sodium to either 2,300 mg per day or 1,500 mg per day, depending on your health situation. Added sugar, cholesterol, red meat, saturated fat and total fat are also limited. The emphasis is on whole grains, fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy, fish, nuts and poultry.
Considerations
Many people who have high blood pressure either don't know they have this condition or aren't getting treated for it. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center only about one-fourth of those with high blood pressure are actually taking steps to control their blood pressure.
Along with dietary changes limiting salt and saturated fat, those who are overweight will have an easier time controlling their blood pressure if they lose the extra weight they are carrying, according to Health Services at Columbia University.
Other Treatment Options
Besides following a healthy low-salt diet, exercising, limiting alcohol, keeping stress under control and stopping smoking to treat high blood pressure, you may need to be using one or more medications including ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, renin inhibitors or thiazide diuretics, according to the Mayo Clinic. Alternative medical treatments include yoga and taking supplements such as garlic or omega-3 fatty acids, but you should discuss these options with your doctor first, and they should not be used instead of the treatment recommended by your doctor.
Expert Insight
You should keep your blood pressure under 140/90 mg Hg, and get tested regularly for high blood pressure, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Untreated high blood pressure puts you at higher risk for heart disease, kidney failure, stroke and vascular disease.
