Lifestyle Choices
Can Rein In High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is elevated pressure of the blood in the arteries. It is usually caused when the heart pumps blood with excessive force, or when the body's smaller blood vessels narrow, putting more pressure on the vessel walls.

High blood pressure is a common condition, and the risk for developing it rises with age. About 60 percent of Americans age 60 and older suffer from high blood pressure. It can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, heart failure and other problems.

What are the risk factors?

The most common type of hypertension is called primary or essential hypertension, and its cause is not known. Other risk factors can include genetics, obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, sleep apnea, certain medications, stress, or use of alcohol, caffeine or tobacco.

What are the new blood pressure guidelines?

New guidelines for treating hypertension were published by the National Institute of Health in May 2003. Click here for a chart listing these guidelines.

How do I lower my blood pressure?

The good news: Healthy habits cut the risk of developing hypertension and they also can help people with this condition keep it under control.

If you have hypertension, take this advice to heart:

• Manage your weight. Losing just 10 pounds can reduce blood pressure in overweight people with hypertension.
• Exercise regularly. Thirty minutes of moderate exercise - such as brisk walking - on most days of the week is one of the best ways to manage hypertension. Talk to your doctor about an appropriate workout.
• Limit alcohol. If you drink, do so only in moderation. For men, this means no more than two daily drinks, and for women, no more than one drink per day.
• Restrict sodium intake. Consume no more than 2.4 grams of sodium - equal to about 1 teaspoon of table salt - daily. 
• Increase the amount of potassium in your diet.
• Follow a heart-healthy diet. In addition to limiting sodium, it's wise to cut back on total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol.
• If you smoke, quit. Smoking significantly raises blood pressure.

How is high blood pressure treated?

In addition to the lifestyle modifications listed above, there are a number of drug therapies that are used for high blood pressure. Single drug therapy is often all that is needed for people with Stage 1 Hypertension. For Stage 2 Hypertension, it usually requires a combination of two or three medications to control blood pressure.

This article was prepared by Barry Baines, M.D., Medicare Medical Director for UCare Minnesota.

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