Preventing High Blood Pressure

If you have high blood pressure, you can lower it and control it with proper treatment. If you don't have high blood pressure now, you can take steps to prevent it from developing. You can help to control and prevent high blood pressure by taking the following steps:

• Control your weight, or lose weight if you are overweight. Losing even ten pounds will help.

• Exercise regularly - 30 minutes a day for most days of the week is best.

• Limit your daily intake of sodium to less than 2,400 mg (about 1 teaspoon of salt). Sodium is found in many packaged foods, carbonated beverages, baking soda, and some antacids. Read product labels so you know what you are eating. If you would like to try a salt substitute, talk with your health care provider first, because they are not safe for everyone.

• Have a diet that includes more fruits and vegetables, and low fat or nonfat dairy products, and limited amounts of saturated fat and total fat.

• Eat foods that are rich in potassium since potassium seems to prevent high blood pressure. Aim to have more than 3,500 mg of potassium per day.

• If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. No more than one serving per day for women (e.g. 12 oz. beer or 5 oz. wine), and no more than two servings per day for most men (e.g. 24 oz. beer or 10 oz wine).

• If you are prescribed high blood pressure medication, take it exactly as prescribed so it works properly. Don't forget to talk with your health care provider about other medications - both over-the-counter and prescription - that you are taking to make sure they do not interfere with the blood pressure medication. Ask questions about what types of over-the-counter medications you can take before you take them. Bring all of your medication, even those you buy over the counter, to your visit with your health care provider.

• If you are pregnant, get regular prenatal checkups so your health care provider can find and control a possible high blood pressure problem.

• If you are taking birth control pills, estrogen, or hormone therapy (HT), get regular blood pressure checks from your health care provider to find and control a blood pressure problem.

Talk with your health care provider if you need help with these steps or have any questions or concerns.