Controlling your high blood pressure
Controlling hypertensionHypertension is another term used to describe high blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to:
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Stroke
Stroke
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...
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Heart attack
Heart attack
Most heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. ...
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Heart failure
Heart failure
Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...
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Kidney disease
Kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease is the slow loss of kidney function over time. The main job of the kidneys is to remove wastes and excess water from the body...
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You are more likely to have high blood pressure as you get older. This is because your blood vessels become stiffer as you age. When that happens, your blood pressure goes up.
When is Your Blood Pressure a Concern?
If your blood pressure is high, you need to lower it and keep it under control. Your blood pressure reading has 2 numbers. One or both of these numbers can be too high.
- The top number is called the systolic blood pressure. For most people, this reading is too high if it is 140 or higher.
- The bottom number is called the diastolic blood pressure. For most people, this reading is too high if it is 90 or higher.
The above blood pressure numbers are goals that most experts agree on for most people. For some people age 60 years and above, some health care providers recommend a blood pressure goal of 150/90. Some patients may have blood pressure goals lower than these targets, in particular circumstances. Your provider will work with you to create a blood pressure goal that applies to you specifically.
Medicines for Blood Pressure
Many medicines can help you control your blood pressure. Your provider will:
- Prescribe the best medicine for you
- Monitor your medicines
- Make changes if needed
Older adults tend to take more medicines and this puts them at greater risk for harmful side effects. One side effect of blood pressure medicine is an increased risk for falls. When treating older adults, blood pressure goals need to be balanced against medicine side effects.
Diet, Exercise, and Other Lifestyle Changes
In addition to taking medicine, you can do many things to help control your blood pressure. Some of these include:
- Limit the amount of sodium (salt) you eat. Aim for less than 1,500 mg per day.
- Limit how much alcohol you drink, no more than 1 drink a day for women and 2 a day for men.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet that includes the recommended amounts of potassium and fiber.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Stay at a healthy body weight. Find a weight-loss program, if you need it.
- Exercise regularly. Get at least 40 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise at least 3 to 4 days a week aiming for at least 150 minutes per week.
- Reduce stress. Try to avoid things that cause you stress, and try meditation or yoga to de-stress.
- If you smoke, quit. Find a program that will help you stop.
Your provider can help you find programs for losing weight, stopping smoking, and exercising. You can also get a referral to a dietitian from your provider. The dietitian can help you plan a diet that is healthy for you.
Stopping smoking
There are many ways to quit smoking. There are also resources to help you. Family members, friends, and co-workers may be supportive. But to be su...
Checking Your Blood Pressure
Your blood pressure can be measured at many places, including:
- Home
- Your provider's office
- Your local fire station
- Some pharmacies
Your provider may ask you to keep track of your blood pressure at home. Make sure you get a good quality, well-fitting home device. It is best to have one with a cuff for your arm and a digital readout. Practice with your provider to make sure you are taking your blood pressure correctly.
Home device
Your health care provider may ask you to keep track of your blood pressure at home. To do this, you will need to get home blood pressure monitor. T...
It is normal for your blood pressure to be different at different times of the day.
It is most often higher when you are at work. It drops slightly when you are at home. It is most often lowest when you are sleeping.
It is normal for your blood pressure to increase suddenly when you wake up. For people with very high blood pressure, this is when they are most at risk for heart attack and stroke.
Heart attack
Most heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. ...
Stroke
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...
Follow-up
Your provider will give you a physical exam and check your blood pressure often. With your provider, establish a goal for your blood pressure.
If you monitor your blood pressure at home, keep a written record. Bring the results to your clinic visit.
When to Call the Doctor
Contact your provider if your blood pressure goes well above your normal range.
Also contact your provider if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Severe headache
Headache
A headache is pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. Serious causes of headaches are rare. Most people with headaches can feel much better...
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Irregular heartbeat or pulse
Irregular heartbeat
Palpitations are feelings or sensations that your heart is pounding or racing. They can be felt in your chest, throat, or neck. You may:Have an unpl...
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Chest pain
Chest pain
Chest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Sweating
- Nausea or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
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Dizziness or lightheadedness
Dizziness
Dizziness is a term that is often used to describe 2 different symptoms: lightheadedness and vertigo. Lightheadedness is a feeling that you might fai...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Pain or tingling in the neck, jaw, shoulder, or arms
- Numbness or weakness in your body
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Fainting
Fainting
Fainting is a brief loss of consciousness due to a drop in blood flow to the brain. The episode most often lasts less than a couple of minutes and y...
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Confusion
Confusion
Confusion is the inability to think as clearly or quickly as you normally do. You may feel disoriented and have difficulty paying attention, remembe...
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- Other side effects that you think might be from your medicine or your blood pressure
References
American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. 10. Cardiovascular disease and risk management: standards of medical care in diabetes-2022. Diabetes Care. 2022;45(9):2178-2181. PMID: 34964815 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34964815/.
Bakris GL, Sorrentino MJ. Systemic hypertension: mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 26.
Ettehad D, Emdin CA, Kiran A, et al. Blood pressure lowering for prevention of cardiovascular disease and death: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2016;387(10022):957-967. PMID: 26724178 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26724178/.
Rosendorff C, Lackland DT, Allison M, et al. Treatment of hypertension in patients with coronary artery disease: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and American Society of Hypertension. Circulation. 2015;131(19):e435-e470. PMID: 25829340 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25829340/.
Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al. ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on clinical practice guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018;72(3):e33. PMID: 29133354 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29133354/.
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Tracking your blood pressure at home
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Essential hypertension
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Heart disease - modifiable risk factor types
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Taking your blood pressure at home - illustration
After you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, your health care provider may ask you to keep track of your blood pressure by measuring it at home. There are easy-to-use devices that can help you monitor your blood pressure at home. Practice with your provider to make sure you are taking your blood pressure correctly. Compare your home machine with the one at your provider's office to be sure it is reading correctly.
Taking your blood pressure at home
illustration
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Blood pressure check - illustration
To measure blood pressure, your doctor uses an instrument call a sphygmomanometer, which is more often referred to as a blood pressure cuff. The cuff is wrapped around your upper arm and inflated to stop the flow of blood in your artery. As the cuff is slowly deflated, your doctor uses a stethoscope to listen to the blood pumping through the artery. These pumping sounds register on a gauge attached to the cuff. The first pumping sound your doctor hears is recorded as the systolic pressure, and the last sound is the diastolic pressure.
Blood pressure check
illustration
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Low sodium diet - illustration
If you have high blood pressure or heart, liver, or kidney problems, your health care provider may suggest you lower your sodium intake. Look for these words on labels low-sodium, sodium-free, no salt added, or unsalted. Check all labels to see how many milligrams of sodium there are per serving. Be sure to note how many servings there are in the package. Also, avoid foods that list salt near the top of the list of ingredients. Try to choose foods that have 140 milligrams or less of sodium per serving. A common daily sodium intake goal is 1,500 mg per day. Ask your provider what is best for you.
Low sodium diet
illustration
-
Tracking your blood pressure at home
Animation
-
Essential hypertension
Animation
-
Heart disease - modifiable risk factor types
Animation
-
Taking your blood pressure at home - illustration
After you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, your health care provider may ask you to keep track of your blood pressure by measuring it at home. There are easy-to-use devices that can help you monitor your blood pressure at home. Practice with your provider to make sure you are taking your blood pressure correctly. Compare your home machine with the one at your provider's office to be sure it is reading correctly.
Taking your blood pressure at home
illustration
-
Blood pressure check - illustration
To measure blood pressure, your doctor uses an instrument call a sphygmomanometer, which is more often referred to as a blood pressure cuff. The cuff is wrapped around your upper arm and inflated to stop the flow of blood in your artery. As the cuff is slowly deflated, your doctor uses a stethoscope to listen to the blood pumping through the artery. These pumping sounds register on a gauge attached to the cuff. The first pumping sound your doctor hears is recorded as the systolic pressure, and the last sound is the diastolic pressure.
Blood pressure check
illustration
-
Low sodium diet - illustration
If you have high blood pressure or heart, liver, or kidney problems, your health care provider may suggest you lower your sodium intake. Look for these words on labels low-sodium, sodium-free, no salt added, or unsalted. Check all labels to see how many milligrams of sodium there are per serving. Be sure to note how many servings there are in the package. Also, avoid foods that list salt near the top of the list of ingredients. Try to choose foods that have 140 milligrams or less of sodium per serving. A common daily sodium intake goal is 1,500 mg per day. Ask your provider what is best for you.
Low sodium diet
illustration
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Review Date: 8/23/2022
Reviewed By: Thomas S. Metkus, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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