Learn how to do anything: How to Lower Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is also called hypertension. Two factors contribute to high blood pressure: the quantity of blood your heart pumps and how narrow your arteries are. High blood pressure raises your risk of heart problems and strokes.^[1] Most people have no symptoms, so the best way to detect it is to get screened during a checkup at your doctor’s office at least every year. If you do have high blood pressure, there are some dietary and lifestyle changes that can help you lower your blood pressure.^[2]

EditSteps

EditEating on the DASH Diet

Lower your sodium intake. Many people eat as much as 3,500 mg of sodium per day. The DASH diet, which is short for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, recommends no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. Sodium is in salt, so the best way to reduce your sodium intake is to eat less salt. You can do this by:^[3]
- Not adding table salt to your food. This may also include reducing the amount of salt you use when cooking. Easy ways to do this include not salting meats and not adding salt to the water when you cook rice or pasta.
- Avoiding salty snacks and processed food such as chips, pretzels, and salted nuts. They often have large amounts of salt added to them. If you do purchase prepared foods, look to see if you can get a low-salt version. Check the contents of canned food, premixed seasonings, bouillon cubes, canned soups, jerkies, and sports drinks to see if they have salt added to them.
Eat six to eight servings of grains per day. Whole grains are better than processed white rice or processed white flour because they have more fiber and nutrients. A serving is a slice of bread or a half a cup of cooked rice or pasta. You can eat more whole grains by:^[4]
- Buying whole wheat flour and pasta instead of white. Many whole wheat bread products will say on the packaging that they are whole wheat.
- Oatmeal and brown rice are also excellent sources of nutrients and fiber.
Load up on fruits and vegetables. You should eat four to five servings of fruit and four to five servings of vegetables each day. A serving is a half a cup of leafy vegetables or a ½ cup of cooked vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are great sources of potassium and magnesium which help to lower your blood pressure. Excellent ways to get your fruits and vegetables include:^[5]
- Eating salads with your meals. You can keep them interesting by varying what you put in them. You can add a sweet element by putting apple or orange slices on a salad. Leave on the peels of thin-skinned fruits like apples because they also contain nutrients. You can also go more traditional with fresh greens, carrots, and tomatoes. But go easy on the salad dressings: they often have a lot of salt and fatty oils.
- Making vegetables a side dish. Instead of cooking pasta, try putting the main dish over a sweet potato or next to a side of squash.
- Snacking on fruits and vegetables between meals. Take an apple, banana, carrot, cucumber or green pepper with you to work or school.
- Buying fresh and frozen vegetables. If you are worried about having fresh produce go bad before you eat it, frozen vegetables are an excellent choice. You can put them in the freezer until you need them and when you thaw them, they will still be packed with nutrients.
Add low-fat dairy products. Dairy is an important source of calcium and vitamin D, but it is important to choose carefully to avoid eating too much fat and salt. A cup is a serving. Aim for two to three servings per day.^[6]
- Cheese is often high in salt, so eat it sparingly.
- When you eat yogurt and drink milk, go for the low-fat or skim varieties. Both are great with whole-grain cereals for breakfast.
Eat lean meat, poultry and fish in moderation. Meats and fish are excellent sources of protein, vitamins, iron and zinc, but some kinds can be high in fat and cholesterol. Since fat and cholesterol can clog your arteries, it is best to not eat too much. Eat no more than six servings per day. A serving is an ounce of meat or an egg.^[7]
- Avoid fatty red meats, and if you do eat them, cut the fat off as much as possible. When you cook, don’t fry your meats. Healthier alternatives include baking, grilling, or roasting.
- Salmon, herring and tuna are great sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Eating these fish can help control your cholesterol and they are high in protein.
Control your fat consumption. Fat increases your risk of heart disease. To protect your heart, restrict your fat intake to a maximum of three servings per day. A tablespoon of butter is a serving. Easy ways to reduce your fat intake include:^[8]
- Not spreading butter or mayonnaise on breads. In addition, you can reduce the amount of oil you cook with. Substitute skim milk for whole milk and avoid heavy cream, lard, solid shortenings, palm and coconut oils.
Supplement your diet with nuts, seeds, and legumes. They are relatively high in fat, but they also have magnesium, potassium, fiber, and protein. Because of this, the DASH diet recommends eating only four or five servings per week. A serving is 1/3 of a cup of nuts.
- Nuts and seeds make an excellent addition to salads or, when unsalted, a healthy snack.
- For vegetarians, tofu is an excellent meat substitute because it is high in protein.
Restrict your sugar consumption. Processed sugars add calories to your diet without providing you with the nutrients that will make you feel satisfied. Reduce your consumption of sweets to, at most, five per week. A serving is a tablespoon of sugar or jelly.^[9]
- You can use artificial sweeteners like Splenda, NutraSweet, and Equal, but use them sparingly.

EditMaking Lifestyle Changes

Exercise. Being physically active can lower your blood pressure by helping to control your weight and manage stress.^[10]
- For the best results try to do 75–150 minutes of physical activity per week. You can choose what you like to do best. Great options include walking, running, dancing, biking, swimming, and playing sports such as basketball or soccer.
- Do strength training, such as weight lifting, twice a week to maintain bone density and build muscle.
Reduce your alcohol intake. Alcohol abuse is bad for your heart. In addition, alcoholic beverages are high in calories and make you more prone to obesity. You can lower your blood pressure by quitting drinking or drinking only in moderation.^[11]
- Men over 65 and women should limit themselves to, at most, one drink per day.
- Men under 65 should have no more than two drinks per day.
- A 12 oz beer, 5 oz glass of wine, or 1.5 oz of hard liquor qualifies as a drink.
Don’t smoke or chew tobacco. Using tobacco can harden your arteries and cause them to become narrower, which will increase your blood pressure. Secondhand smoke also causes these effects. There are many resources available to help you quit smoking:^[12]^[13]
- Talking to your doctor or seeing a counselor
- Joining support groups or calling hotlines
- Using medications or nicotine replacement therapy
Evaluate your medications and don’t use street drugs. If you think your medications might be causing high blood pressure, consult your doctor. Your doctor may be able to help you find a medication that is more suitable for you. Don’t stop taking your medications without clearing it with your doctor first. The following substances and medications may increase blood pressure:^[14]
- Cocaine, crystal methamphetamines, and amphetamines
- Some birth control pills
- Some decongestants and cold medications
- Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen and others)
Reduce your stress. While stress is an unavoidable part of life, you can use relaxation techniques to help you deal with it better. Common techniques include:^[15]

EditSeeing a Doctor

Call emergency medical responders if you think you might be having a heart attack or stroke. Both are emergencies and every minute counts.
- Signs of a heart attack include pressure or pain the chest, pain in one or both arms, neck, back, jaw, or abdomen, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or dizziness. In some, sudden onset reflux symptoms or pain just below the sternum may be experienced. Both men and women are vulnerable to heart attacks.^[16]
- Symptoms of a stroke include: drooping face, difficulty speaking or understanding speech, numbness or weakness in an arm, leg, or the face, confusion, vision problems in one or both eyes, dizziness, loss of coordination, headache, ^[17]
Go to the emergency room if you have symptoms of high blood pressure. Most people do not have symptoms, so the best way to find out is to get your blood pressure checked every year at your annual checkup. That being said, when people show symptoms, they may include:^[18]
- Headaches that don’t go away
- Blurred vision or seeing double
- Frequent nosebleeds
- Shortness of breath
Take medications if your doctor feels it is needed. It is very important to take the medications following your doctor’s instructions. If you skip doses or don’t take them correctly, they may not be effective. Your doctor may prescribe:^[19]
- ACE inhibitors. ACE stands for Angiotensin-converting enzyme. This medication relaxes your blood vessels. It may give you a cough as a side effect. It can interact with other medications, including over-the-counter medications. Don’t take any other medications, including over-the-counter medications, supplements, and herbal remedies without consulting your doctor first.
- Calcium channel blockers. This medication widens your arteries. Ask your doctor about side effects and interactions.
- Diuretics. These medications reduce your salt levels by causing you to urinate.
- Beta-blockers. These medications slow your heartbeat and make it less forceful. This is generally a last resort for when other medications and lifestyle changes have not been sufficient.