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Managing Hypertension
Once you are diagnosed with hypertension, it is very important to control your blood pressure by adopting a healthy lifestyle. One must exercise caution with their diet, maintain a routine exercise program and follow a regular schedule of blood tests.
The most efficient method of managing hypertension/high blood pressure is by making lifestyle changes as:
- Weight reduction in those who are overweight or obese.
- Adoption of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan which is rich in potassium and calcium.
- Dietary sodium reduction.
- Regular physical activity.
- Moderation of alcohol consumption
- Efficient Stress Management
All these measures need to be combined for best results.
Diagnostic Tests:
- Diagnostic tests: blood total count, sodium, potassium, glucose, creatine, uric acid, lipid profile consisting of cholesterol, triglycerides, high and low density lipo-proteins, electrocardiogram (ECG).
- Urine dip test may be done if high blood pressure readings are observed in the first visit.
- These tests repeated for confirmation.
- Blood potassium level checked if the person is on diuretic ACE or ARB treatment regime, with creatine also included if needed.
- If potassium level is low with diuretic regime, the doctor may give potassium supplements or change diuretic type or dose. If this fails to bring potassium to the required level, further testing may be necessary.
- Regular blood pressure monitoring, exercise stress test, blood analysis, ECG etc done as per requirement.
Prevention:
- Healthy life habits listed above.
- Medicines should be added to healthy habits, for high blood pressure.
- For children and teens, healthy foods, more active life with only restricted TV watching, sitting near the computer etc.
- Maintaining healthy weight are important preventive steps.
- Routine regular medical checkup will help in all these cases.
