How Is High Blood Pressure Treated? 

High blood pressure (HBP) is treated with lifestyle changes and medicines.
 
Most people who have HBP will need lifelong treatment. Sticking  to your treatment plan is important. It can prevent or delay the problems linked to HBP and help you live and stay active longer. 

For more tips on controlling your  blood pressure, see the National Heart, Lung,  and Blood Institute's (NHLBI's) "Your Guide to Lowering Blood Pressure." 

Goals of Treatment 

The treatment goal  for most adults is  to get and keep blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg. For adults who have diabetes or chronic kidney disease, the goal is to get and keep blood pressure below 130/80 mmHg. 

Lifestyle Changes 

Healthy habits can help you control HBP. Healthy habits include: 

• Following a healthy eating plan 
• Doing enough physical activity 
• Maintaining a healthy weight 
• Quitting smoking 
• Managing your stress and learning to cope with stress 

If you combine these measures, you can achieve even better results  than taking single steps. Making lifestyle changes can be hard. Start by making one healthy lifestyle change and then adopt others. 

Some people can control their blood pressures with lifestyle changes alone, but many people can't. Keep in mind  that the main goal is blood pressure control. If your doctor prescribes medicines as a part of your treatment plan, keep up your healthy habits. This  will help you better control your blood pressure. 

Follow  a Healthy Eating Plan 

Your doctor may recommend  the Dietary Approaches  to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan  if you have HBP. The DASH eating plan focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other foods that  are heart healthy and lower in sodium (salt). 

This eating plan is low in fat and cholesterol. It also features fat-free  or low-fat milk and dairy products, fish, poultry, and nuts. The DASH eating plan suggests less red meat (even lean red meat), sweets, added sugars, and sugar-containing beverages. The plan is rich in nutrients, protein, and fiber. 

To help control HBP, you should limit the amount of salt  that you eat. This means choosing low-salt  and "no added salt" foods  and seasonings at  the table or when cooking. The Nutrition Facts label on food packaging shows the amount  of sodium  in the item. You should eat no more than about 1 teaspoon of salt a day. 

You also should try to limit alcoholic drinks. Too much alcohol will raise your blood pressure. Men should  have no more than two alcoholic drinks a day. Women should have no more than one alcoholic drink a day. 

For more information on limiting salt and alcohol in your diet, see the Your Guide to Lowering High Blood Pressure Web site. 

Do Enough Physical Activity 

Regular physical activity can lower HBP and also reduce your risk for  other health problems. 

Check with your doctor about how much and what kinds  of activity  are safe for you. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on most  or all days of the week. You can do it all at once or break it up into shorter periods of at least 10 minutes each. 
Moderate-intensity activities include brisk walking, dancing, bowling, riding a bike, working in a garden, and cleaning the house. 

If your doctor agrees, you also may want  to do more intense activities, such as jogging, swimming, and playing sports. For more information, see the NHLBI's "Your Guide to Physical Activity and Your Heart." 

Maintain a Healthy Weight 

Staying at a healthy weight can  help control blood pressure and also reduce your risk for  other health problems. 

If you're overweight or obese, aim to reduce your weight by 7 to 10 percent during your first year of treatment. This amount of weight loss can lower your risk for health problems related to HBP. 

After the first year, you may  have to continue to lose weight so you can lower your body mass index (BMI) to less than 25. 

BMI measures your weight  in relation to your height and gives an estimate of your total body fat. A BMI between 25 and 29 is considered overweight. A BMI of 30 or more is considered obese. A BMI of less than 25 is the goal  for keeping  blood pressure under control. 

You can measure your BMI using the NHLBI's online calculator, or your health care provider can help. 

For more information on losing weight and keeping it off, see the Diseases and Conditions Index Overweight and Obesity article. 

Quit Smoking 

Smoking can damage your blood vessels and raise your  risk for HBP. It also can worsen health problems related to HBP. Smoking is bad for everyone, especially those who have HBP. 

If you smoke or use tobacco, quit. Talk to your doctor about programs and products that can help you quit. The U.S. Department  of Health and Human Services has information on how to quit smoking. Also, take steps to protect yourself from secondhand smoke. 

Managing Stress 

Learning how to manage stress, relax, and cope with problems can improve your emotional and physical health. 

Physical activity helps some  people cope with stress. Other people listen to music or focus on something calm or peaceful to reduce stress. Some people learn yoga, tai chi, or how to meditate. 

Medicines  

Today's blood pressure medicines can safely help most people control their blood pressures. These medicines are easy to take. The side effects, if any, tend to be minor. 

If you  have side effects from your medicines, talk to your doctor. He or she may be able to adjust  the doses or prescribe other medicines. You shouldn't decide  on your own to stop taking your medicines. 

Blood pressure medicines work  in different ways to lower blood pressure. Some remove extra fluid and salt from  the body to lower blood pressure. Others slow down the heartbeat or relax and widen blood vessels. Often, two or more medicines work better than one. 

Diuretics  

Diuretics are sometimes called water pills. They help your kidneys flush excess water and salt from your body. This lessens the amount of fluid in your blood, and your  blood pressure goes down. 

Diuretics often are used with other HBP medicines  and sometimes combined into one pill. 

Beta Blockers 

Beta blockers help your  heart beat slower  and with less force. Your heart pumps less blood through your blood vessels, and your blood pressure goes down. 

ACE Inhibitors 

ACE inhibitors keep your body from making a hormone called angiotensin II. This hormone normally causes blood vessels to narrow. ACE inhibitors prevent this, so your blood pressure goes down. 

Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers 

Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)  are newer blood pressure medicines that protect your blood vessels from angiotensin II. As a result, blood vessels relax and widen, and your blood pressure goes down. 

Calcium Channel Blockers 

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) keep calcium from entering the muscle cells of your heart and blood vessels. This allows blood vessels to relax, and your blood pressure goes down. 

Alpha Blockers 

Alpha blockers reduce nerve impulses that tighten blood vessels. This allows blood to flow more freely, causing blood pressure to go down. 

Alpha-Beta Blockers 

Alpha-beta blockers reduce nerve impulses the same way alpha blockers do. However, they also slow the heartbeat like beta blockers. As a result, blood pressure goes down. 

Nervous System Inhibitors 

Nervous system inhibitors increase nerve impulses from the brain to relax and widen blood vessels. This causes blood pressure to go down. 

Vasodilators  

Vasodilators relax the muscles in blood vessel walls. This causes blood pressure to go down. 

Treatment for Children and Teens 

If another condition is causing your child's HBP, treating it often resolves the HBP. When the cause of a child  or teen's HBP isn't known, the first line of treatment is lifestyle changes (as it is  for adults). 

If lifestyle changes don't control blood pressure, children  and teens also may need to take medicines. Most of the medicines listed above  for adults have unique doses for children.