Prevention and Treatment

To help prevent or control high blood pressure, there are some things you can do.

• Lose excess weight.
• Increase physical activity.
• Follow a heart healthy eating plan, Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH), which includes eating foods lower in salt.
• Limit alcohol intake.
• Stop Smoking.

If hypertension is not controlled by weight loss, physical activity and appropriate diet, your doctor will prescribe medication(s) to control your blood pressure. If your doctor prescribes a medication, make sure to take it as directed. Remember that you may be in a situation of taking medication for a condition that gives you no symptoms but has serious complications.

If you want to learn more about your blood pressure, visit your doctor. If it's too high, talk to him or her about ways to lower it.