Tag: diet

Senior College, Senior College Class

High Blood Pressure and What You Can Do About It

wendyckasten

Carol Kuhn, M.D.

This will be a practical approach to high blood pressure and non-drug ways to lower blood pressure. I will make little reference to the various medications which are commonly used to treat high blood pressure or hypertension, as it is referred to by clinicians.

What is blood pressure? Blood pressure is a force that blood exerts on the walls of the arteries (the blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to the rest of the body). Systolic blood pressure is measured while the heart is beating, and diastolic pressure is measured when the heart is at rest between beats.



What is hypertension or high blood pressure? For best health, those numbers should be lower than 120/80 mmHg. Borderline high pressure or pre-hypertension is systolic of 120-139, diastolic of 80-89. A person is considered to have high blood pressure if one or both measurements remain at 140/90 mmHg or higher. There are no symptoms associated with high blood pressure; and if left untreated over time it can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, or kidney disease.

How is blood pressure taken accurately? Your feet should be flat on the floor, your arm resting on a stable surface at heart level. You should be sitting quietly for at least 5 minutes before the blood pressure is taken using a blood pressure cuff of appropriate size.

How is high blood pressure treated? Hypertension can be treated with different medications. I am including a list of antihypertensive drugs for initial treatment. Generic versus brand names will vary and you need to discuss the specifics of your medication with your health provider.

  • Thiazide and thiazide-type diuretics (hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, indapamide) Remember to have your blood checked for potassium levels as these can cause low potassium and heart irregularities. Do not take a potassium substitute on your own; too high a level of potassium can also cause irregularities.
  • Angiotensin- converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) (lisinopril, Losartan)
  • Calcium channel blockers (amlodipine)


High blood pressure can also be treated with several non-drug approaches including healthy lifestyle habits, good nutrition, mind body techniques, and nutritional supplements.

What lifestyle habits can lower blood pressure? Exercising, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and maintaining proper weight lowers systolic blood pressure by about 10-15 mmHg.  Cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke are reduced with these changes.