Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension
Overweight and Obesity is a major risk factor associated with the development of hypertension. To avoid complications associated with hypertension steps should be taken to lower other risk factors in addition to healthy weight loss and diet change to promote ideal cardiovascular health
- Blood pressure is largely affected by weight. By reducing your weight by as little as 10 lbs, your risk for developing hypertension is significantly reduced
- Aerobic exercise assists in making your heart more efficient thereby lowering blood pressure
- Cessation of smoking will help reduce your risk for developing high blood pressure
- High intake of dietary sodium is strongly linked to high blood pressure. Limiting the amount of salt in your diet will decrease your blood pressure and problems associated with hypertension
- If your diet contains high levels of sodium, potassium supplementation can assist in counter-balancing the negative effects
- Reduction of alcohol consumption to no more than 1 oz of ethanol per day for men and .5 oz for women. This comes out to about one alcoholic drink a day.
- The best precaution to take in preventative care of hypertension is to alter your diet to include more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products while also reducing saturated and total fat intake
Once you have been diagnosed with hypertension there are many different options for treatment and management
- The first steps of treatment are the same methods of prevention, cessation of smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, increasing aerobic exercise, and losing weight
- Alteration to diet is also advised, especially following the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and a sodium reduced diet
- Adoption of an exercise program as well as diet alteration are two of the most important factors when also looking to lose weight and therefore further decrease risk of cardiovascular episodes
- Diuretics help your kidneys eliminate sodium and water which reduces fluid pressure within the body thereby reducing blood pressure
- Beta Blockers open your blood vessels and reduce the workload on your heart by allowing blood to flow more easily which means the heart does not need to beat as fast or with as much force
- Angiotensin-Converting-Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors relax the blood vessels by blocking the formation of angiotensin in the body which cause blood vessel constriction
- Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) block the action of angiotensin, a chemical in the body which causes blood vessel constriction
- Calcium channel blockers work by blocking the entrance of calcium into the smooth muscle of the heart. A shortage of calcium blocks the heart from contracting as forcefully as it would normally
- Sometimes a combination of multiple drugs and treatments are used in the treatment of hypertension depending on the severity