It is important to take steps to keep your blood pressure under control. The treatment goal is blood pressure below 140/90 and lower for people with other conditions, such as diabetes and kidney disease. The goal of hypertension treatment is blood pressure below 140/90 and protect important organs, like the brain, heart, and kidneys from damage. Treatment for hypertension has been associated with reductions in stroke (reduced an average of 35%-40%), heart attack (20%-25%), and heart failure (more than 50%), according to research.
High blood pressure is classified as:
- Normal blood pressure: less than 120/80 mmHg
- Prehypertension: 120-139/80-89 mmHg
- Hypertension: greater than 140/90 mmHg
- Stage 1 Hypertension:140-159/90-99 mmHg
- Stage 2 Hypertension: 160 or greater/ 100 or greater mmHg
Lifestyle Changes to Treat High Blood Pressure
A critical step in preventing and treating high blood pressure is a healthy lifestyle. You can lower your blood pressure with the following lifestyle changes:
- Losing weight if you are overweight or obese.
- Quitting smoking.
- Eating a healthy diet, including the DASH diet (eating more fruits, vegetables, and low fat dairy products, less saturated and total fat).
- Reducing the amount of sodium in your diet to 2,300 milligrams (about 1 teaspoon of salt) a day or less.
- Getting regular aerobic exercise (such as brisk walking at least 30 minutes a day, several days a week).
- Limiting alcohol to two drinks a day for men, one drink a day for women.
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