For years, you've thought you had normal blood pressure, and suddenly the doctor tells you that you have high blood pressure and that you're at risk for heart disease and strokes.

 

Fair enough. A bit of a surprise, but what do you do about it?

Then he tells you. You've been having trouble trying to quit smoking, and now he wants you to lose weight (try doing that when you're trying to kick nicotine), follow a strict high blood pressure diet, start exercising, and learn about stress management. To top it off, he wants you to keep alcohol consumption to moderate levels.

 

Your first thought might be that normal blood pressure and the joys of life are mutually exclusive. Your second is probably disbelief. How are you supposed to do all that? You don't want a heart attack, but if you try doing everything at once you'll need some stress management to avoid one. Your blood pressure went up just listening to all that!

 

The key to successfully controlling high blood pressure is to start with one thing at a time. Ask your doctor what you should change first, and remember that these lifestyle changes overlap. A hypertension diet cuts out lots of fat and salt, which leads to weight loss. Weight loss leads to more energy, which makes it easier to exercise, which makes it easier to lose weight.

 

This section is divided into multiple articles on controlling high blood pressure through lifestyle changes. To research other hypertension or health topics, please use the morefocus search box, or see the related topics listed to the left.