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
Adopting healthy lifestyle habits is an effective first step in both preventing and controlling high blood pressure. If lifestyle changes alone are not effective in keeping your pressure controlled, it may be necessary to add blood pressure medications.
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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