Weight loss.
Doctors recommend weight loss and
regular exercise as the first steps
in treating mild to moderate
hypertension. These steps are
highly effective in reducing blood
pressure, but easier to suggest
than to achieve, and most patients
with moderate or severe
hypertension end up requiring
indefinite drug therapy to bring
their blood pressure down to a safe
level.
Stop smoking.
Discontinuing smoking does not
directly reduce blood pressure, but
is very important for people with
hypertension because it reduces the
risk of many dangerous outcomes of
hypertension, such as stroke and
heart attack.
Exercise. Mild
hypertension is usually treated by
diet, exercise and improved
physical fitness. A diet rich in
fruits and vegetables and fat-free
dairy foods and low in fat and
sodium lowers blood pressure in
people with hypertension. Regular
mild exercise improves blood flow,
and helps to lower blood
pressure.
Decrease salt
intake. Dietary sodium (salt)
causes hypertension in some people
and reducing salt intake decreases
blood pressure in a third of
people.
Reduce
environmental stress. Reduction of
environmental stressors such as
high sound levels and
over-illumination can be an
additional method of helping reduce
hypertension.