Weight Loss

• Patients with high blood pressure should make the effort to lose any excess weight they are carrying. Blood pressure has been proven to rise as weight increases. Therefore, as pounds are shed, a person's blood pressure will decrease also. Additionally, losing weight will help to make high blood pressure medication more effective if the patient is required to take it. While shedding the pounds, make sure to focus primarily on the waistline area. Studies show that both men and women who retain more weight than they should in this area increase their risk of developing hypertension (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2009).
  
  

Exercise & Diet

• After consulting with a physician, develop an exercise plan that will help reduce blood pressure. Regular daily exercise has been shown to reduce blood pressure in some individuals. In others, exercise has prevented prehypertension from becoming hypertension and has reduced blood pressure in already hypertensive individuals to safer levels. Make sure to ease into this new exercise routine slowly. In individuals with high blood pressure who are not used to such activity, trying to do too much can be risky (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2009).
  
  Changing your diet can also have a significant impact on treating hypertension. Patients who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure should begin a diet that is rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. They should try to consume only low-fat dairy products and avoid saturated fats and cholesterol. There are a few things you can do to ensure you maintain your healthy eating habits. One, you should make a food journal of everything you eat so you are able to see where your problem areas are, such as late-night snacking. Second, hypertensive patients should consider increasing their potassium intake. Third, make a list of necessities before shopping and only pick up what is on the list to avoid buying junk food (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2009).
  
  

Sodium Reduction

• Reducing sodium consumption can have an impact on those with high blood pressure. Hypertensive patients should reduce salt slowly and be aware of the amounts of sodium in all food they eat. You should try to make sure you do not exceed the recommended daily allowance of sodium for an average adult, which is somewhere between 1,500 and 2,400 milligrams daily. Some ways to reduce sodium intake include eating fewer processed foods, consuming more fresh foods, and trying to curtail adding salt to food for flavoring (Mayo Foundation got Medical Education and Research, 2009).