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How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Sexual Health. Birth control STIs HIV HSV Activity Relationships. Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP — By Marjorie Hecht — Updated on October 17, Exercise Manage weight Carbs Potassium and salt Heart-healthy diet Processed food Smoking Stress Dark chocolate Herbal remedies Sleep Garlic Protein Supplements Alcohol Caffeine Water Medication FAQ Summary Medications may help lower your blood pressure.

Get enough exercise. Manage weight. Cut back on sugar and refined carbohydrates. More potassium, less salt. Following a heart-healthy diet. Limit processed food. Quit or avoid smoking. Managing stress. Eat some dark chocolate. Try these medicinal herbs.

Get quality sleep. Eat garlic or take garlic extract supplements. Eat healthy high-protein foods. Take supplements to lower blood pressure.

Limit alcohol intake. Review your caffeine intake. Drink water. Take prescription medication. Frequently asked questions. How we reviewed this article: Sources. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.

We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Oct 17, Written By Marjorie Hecht. May 25, Medically Reviewed By Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP.

Share this article. Read this next. How to Reduce Your High Blood Pressure and Take Down Hypertension. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. Medically reviewed by Jenneh Rishe, RN. Medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, R. High Blood Pressure Treatment.

Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. Will Statins Lower My Blood Pressure? Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.

A commitment to a healthy lifestyle can help prevent and manage high blood pressure. Try these heart-healthy strategies:. Get more exercise. Regular exercise keeps the body healthy. It can lower blood pressure, ease stress, manage weight and reduce the risk of chronic health conditions.

Aim to get at least minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic activity, or a combination of the two. If you have high blood pressure, consistent moderate- to high-intensity workouts can lower your top blood pressure reading by about 11 mm Hg and the bottom number by about 5 mm Hg.

Diet and exercise are the best ways to lower blood pressure. But some supplements are promoted as heart healthy. These supplements include:. Researchers are also studying whether vitamin D can reduce blood pressure, but evidence is conflicting. More research is needed. Talk to your care provider before adding any supplements to your blood pressure treatment.

Some can interact with medicines, causing harmful side effects that could be life-threatening. Deep breathing or mindfulness are alterative medicine techniques that can help you relax. These practices may temporarily reduce blood pressure. High blood pressure isn't something that you can treat and then ignore.

It's a condition that requires regular health checkups. Some things you can do to help manage the condition are:. If you think you may have high blood pressure, make an appointment with your health care provider for a blood pressure test.

You might want to wear a short-sleeved shirt to your appointment so it's easier to place the blood pressure cuff around your arm. No special preparations are necessary for a blood pressure test. To get an accurate reading, avoid caffeine, exercise and tobacco for at least 30 minutes before the test.

Because some medicines can raise blood pressure, bring a list of all medicines, vitamins and other supplements you take and their doses to your medical appointment. Don't stop taking any medicines without your provider's advice. Appointments can be brief.

Because there's often a lot to discuss, it's a good idea to be prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready. Preparing a list of questions can help you and your provider make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out.

For high blood pressure, some basic questions to ask your provider include:. Your health care provider is likely to ask you questions.

Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your provider may ask:. It's never too early to make healthy lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, eating healthy foods and getting more exercise. These are the main ways to protect yourself against high blood pressure and its complications, including heart attack and stroke.

On this page. Self care. Alternative medicine. Coping and support. Preparing for your appointment. Hypertension FAQs. Leslie Thomas, M.

Show Transcript. What is the best way to measure my blood pressure at home? What could be causing my blood pressure to be quite erratic? Should I restrict salt to reduce my blood pressure? How can I lower my blood pressure without medication?

What is the best medication to take for hypertension? Are certain blood pressure medications harmful to my kidneys? How can I be the best partner to my medical team?

Blood pressure measurement. Top number, called systolic pressure. The first, or upper, number measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats. Bottom number, called diastolic pressure. The second, or lower, number measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats.

Stage 1 hypertension. The top number is between and mm Hg or the bottom number is between 80 and 89 mm Hg. Stage 2 hypertension. The top number is mm Hg or higher or the bottom number is 90 mm Hg or higher.

Tests If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, your provider may recommend tests to check for a cause. Ambulatory monitoring. A longer blood pressure monitoring test may be done to check blood pressure at regular times over six or 24 hours.

This is called ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. However, the devices used for the test aren't available in all medical centers. Check with your insurer to see if ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is a covered service. Lab tests. Blood and urine tests are done to check for conditions that can cause or worsen high blood pressure.

For example, tests are done to check your cholesterol and blood sugar levels. You may also have lab tests to check your kidney, liver and thyroid function. Electrocardiogram ECG or EKG. This quick and painless test measures the heart's electrical activity. It can tell how fast or how slow the heart is beating.

During an electrocardiogram ECG , sensors called electrodes are attached to the chest and sometimes to the arms or legs. Wires connect the sensors to a machine, which prints or displays results. This noninvasive exam uses sound waves to create detailed images of the beating heart.

It shows how blood moves through the heart and heart valves. Taking your blood pressure at home Your health care provider may ask you to regularly check your blood pressure at home.

Home blood pressure monitors are available at local stores and pharmacies. More Information. Blood pressure chart. Blood pressure test. Your health care provider may recommend that you make lifestyle changes including: Eating a heart-healthy diet with less salt Getting regular physical activity Maintaining a healthy weight or losing weight Limiting alcohol Not smoking Getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep daily Sometimes lifestyle changes aren't enough to treat high blood pressure.

Medications The type of medicine used to treat hypertension depends on your overall health and how high your blood pressure is. Medicines used to treat high blood pressure include: Water pills diuretics. Angiotensin-converting enzyme ACE inhibitors.

These drugs help relax blood vessels. They block the formation of a natural chemical that narrows blood vessels. Examples include lisinopril Prinivil, Zestril , benazepril Lotensin , captopril and others.

Angiotensin II receptor blockers ARBs. These drugs also relax blood vessels. They block the action, not the formation, of a natural chemical that narrows blood vessels. angiotensin II receptor blockers ARBs include candesartan Atacand , losartan Cozaar and others. Other medicines sometimes used to treat high blood pressure If you're having trouble reaching your blood pressure goal with combinations of the above medicines, your provider may prescribe: Alpha blockers.

These medicines reduce nerve signals to blood vessels. They help lower the effects of natural chemicals that narrow blood vessels. Alpha blockers include doxazosin Cardura , prazosin Minipress and others. Alpha-beta blockers. Alpha-beta blockers block nerve signals to blood vessels and slow the heartbeat.

They reduce the amount of blood that must be pumped through the vessels. Alpha-beta blockers include carvedilol Coreg and labetalol Trandate. Aldosterone antagonists. These drugs may be used to treat resistant hypertension. They block the effect of a natural chemical that can lead to salt and fluid buildup in the body.

Examples are spironolactone Aldactone and eplerenone Inspra. These medicines stop the muscles in the artery walls from tightening. This prevents the arteries from narrowing. Examples include hydralazine and minoxidil. Central-acting agents. These medicines prevent the brain from telling the nervous system to increase the heart rate and narrow the blood vessels.

Examples include clonidine Catapres, Kapvay , guanfacine Intuniv and methyldopa. Treating resistant hypertension You may have resistant hypertension if: You take at least three different blood pressure drugs, including a diuretic.

But your blood pressure remains stubbornly high. You're taking four different medicines to control high blood pressure.

Your care provider should check for a possible second cause of the high blood pressure. Treating resistant hypertension may involve many steps, including: Changing blood pressure medicines to find the best combination and dosage.

Reviewing all your medicines, including those bought without a prescription. Checking blood pressure at home to see if medical appointments cause high blood pressure.

This is called white coat hypertension. Eating healthy, managing weight and making other recommended lifestyle changes. High blood pressure during pregnancy If you have high blood pressure and are pregnant, discuss with your care providers how to control blood pressure during your pregnancy.

Potential future treatments Researchers have been studying the use of heat to destroy specific nerves in the kidney that may play a role in resistant hypertension. Request an appointment. Alpha blockers. Angiotensin II receptor blockers. Show more related information.

Choosing blood pressure medicines. Beta blockers: Do they cause weight gain? Beta blockers: How do they affect exercise? Blood pressure medications: Can they raise my triglycerides? Calcium supplements: Do they interfere with blood pressure drugs?

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You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Clinical trials. Try these heart-healthy strategies: Eat healthy foods. Eat a healthy diet. Try the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension DASH diet. Choose fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, fish and low-fat dairy foods.

Get plenty of potassium from natural sources, which can help lower blood pressure. Eat less saturated fat and trans fat. Use less salt. Processed meats, canned foods, commercial soups, frozen dinners and certain breads can be hidden sources of salt.

Check food labels for the sodium content. Limit foods and beverages that are high in sodium. A sodium intake of 1, mg a day or less is considered ideal for most adults. But ask your provider what's best for you. Limit alcohol. Even if you're healthy, alcohol can raise your blood pressure. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation.

For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for women, and up to two drinks a day for men. One drink equals 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1. Don't smoke. Tobacco injures blood vessel walls and speeds up the process of hardening of the arteries.

If you smoke, ask your care provider for strategies to help you quit. Maintain a healthy weight. If you're overweight or have obesity, losing weight can help control blood pressure and lower the risk of complications. Ask your health care provider what weight is best for you. In general, blood pressure drops by about 1 mm Hg with every 2.

In people with high blood pressure, the drop in blood pressure may be even more significant per kilogram of weight lost. Practice good sleep habits.

Get the facts. Learn the correct way to check your blood pressure Validated Blood Pressure Device Listing. Play without Auto-Play Play Video Text. Hablemas sobre presión arterial. Support That Empowers Recovery from a heart condition becomes so much more manageable when you have the right kind of emotional support.

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