Stress Management

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

Life Style Changes For Managing Hypertension

Maintaining a Healthy Weight

Being overweight increases your risk of developing high blood pressure. In fact, blood pressure rises as body weight increases. Losing even 10 pounds can lower blood pressure - and it has the greatest effect for those who are overweight and already have hypertension.

Being overweight is also a risk factor for heart disease. It increases your chance for developing high blood cholesterol and diabetes - two more major risk factors for heart disease.

Limit Alcohol Intake

Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure. It also can harm the liver, brain, and heart. Alcoholic drinks also contain calories, which matter if you are trying to lose weight. If you have to drink alcoholic beverages, have only a moderate amount - one drink a day for women; two drinks a day for men.

Quitting Smoking

Smoking injures blood vessel walls and speeds up the process of hardening of the arteries. So even though it does not directly cause high blood pressure, smoking is bad for anyone, especially those with high blood pressure. If you smoke, quit. If you don't smoke, don't start.

Source: National Institutes of Health

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