High blood pressure: DO's and DON'Ts?

Question

What should you eat? What vitamins should you take? How much of one thing should you do? What shouldn't you do?

Answer 1

Hello:

Do's of High Blood Pressure:

Keep ALL of your doctor appointments and lab appointments and BE HONEST with your doctor about how you are feeling when you are taking your medication!

Talk to your doctor about what medications you should or shouldn't be taking since you do have high blood pressure.

Do take your high blood pressure medication everyday EXACTLY AS PRESCRIBED BY YOUR DOCTOR! If you notice any weird or unusual side effects,call your doctor immediately!

Do talk with your doctor about what kind of exercise program would be beneficial for you

Do talk with your doctor about what types of vitamins you should be taking

Do try to buy alot of fresh fruits,vegetables,lean protein and stay away from alot of frozen foods or processed foods!

If need be,do set up an appointment with a nutritionist so they can teach you what food choices would be the best if you suffer from high blood pressure and they can teach you how to grocery shop for the healthy foods that your body needs!

Talk with your doctor about your health care plan and how it will be beneficial to you by following it as prescribed by your doctor.

Dont's of High Blood Pressure:

NEVER EVER stop taking your high blood pressure without consulting your doctor FIRST! If it is after hours and you are having very serious or strange side effects,call your doctor's after hours answering service. If your doctor't office doesn't have an answering service,then go straight to the nearest emergency room for medical treatment!

Please watch your salt intake there are ALOT of foods that have hidden sodium in them such as:

Bacon

Hot Dogs

Mustard

Pickles

Bologna

Ham

Frozen Foods

Regular soups such as Campbell's soups with the red label

Pepperoni

I could go on and on but you have to read food labels and talk to your doctor about your nutrition goals if you are suffering from high blood pressure!

Answer 2

A normal blood pressure is less than or equal to 120 ( top number = systolic) and less than or equal to 80( bottom number= diastolic). Stage 1 hypertension ( HTN) is 140-159 / 90-99. Stage 2, HTN Greater or equal to 160 and greater of equal to 100. I'm sure that taking a multivitamin should cause any problems but, if you are taking medicine for your blood pressure, then just ask your Doc if it would be ok for you take them. I do know that there are some herbal remedies that should be approved by your Doc before taking them.
1) Change your lifestyle and habits. Talk to your Doc about your current lifestyle and discuss what changes you should make to lower the health risks that your HTN can cause. Your Doc knows your medical history so please discuss with him/her. Often, a change in your eating habits, low-fat and low sodium ( salt) is recommended. Avoid fast foods, fried foods, try to avoid adding salt to your foods since many foods have alot of salt in them already. It is also recommended to increase your physical activity, be sure to ask your Doc if it is ok for you to take on an exercise routine. Again, because he/she knows your medical history. And, of course, if you smoke, quitting is recommended and you should minimize your alcohol consumption. Yeah, alot of changes. Easier said than done.
2) Take your medicine exactly as directed( if you're on any medicine). If you have new symptoms or side effects, call your Doc.
3) Monitor your blood pressure at home. When taken regularly, your blood pressure measurement recordings may help your Doc to evaluate and treat your HTN. Keep a diary of your blood pressure readings.
I hope this helps and Good Luck.

Answer 3

First, and I probably sound like a broken record like this, but check with your doctor. You should be examined and diagnosed before starting anything related to your diet or self medication.

Mine has me on an ACE inhibitor and diuretic to try and lower the pressure. It's running about 120/80 lately. I am also taking a low-dose aspirin (everybody calls them baby aspirin, but I don't like the term and the flavored aspirin doesn't taste so good; I take an unflavored aspirin) on doctor's orders.

Since starting on this regimen, I prefer it a little warmer, which may be due to the blood thinning.

One little tip, though you may use a little more for the flavor, Morton's Salt Substitute is a potassium chloride product (related to sodium chloride) but it isn't bad.

Answer 4

Take prescribed drug for anti-hypertension, mostly beta blocker.
Strictly diet control of caffein, sodium, alcohol, spicy, sugar (for diabetic), fat, maintain optimal weight and always keep body warm. Few short 10-minutes fast walks daily. Multi-vitamins and nitric oxide are helpful. Optional potassium, calcium and magnesium or other minerals which are plenty in milk and foods. Measure BP as often daily.

Answer 5

first and foremost avoid salt, just about everything you buy already has a ton of sodium, read labels. fish oil i hear is excellent, ask yor doctor about this. avoid fatty foods. watch your cholesterol. those are just a few hints. remember it's always best to talk to your doctor.