Who would recommend controlling your blood pressure without diet and exercise? I am, only IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO STICK TO LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS. Because I have seen blood pressure controlled even without diet and exercise many times.
In the video below, Dr. Gregor discussed how a plant base diet can get your blood pressure down to as low as 120/70 mm Hg.
Let’s face it, we just want a pill for everything, right? Now, you can have it!
The recent resistant hypertension guidelines estimate 14.8 % of Americans have resistant hypertension. Yet, there are lifestyle modifications you can do today to lower your blood pressure.
What You Probably Already Know 
Most people ALREADY KNOW that they should do the following lifestyle modifications in order to lower their blood pressure:
- Eat a low sodium diet, 2.4 grams of sodium and 6 grams of chloride or less (estimated to reduce your top number -systolic blood pressure- by 2-8 mm Hg)
- IncludE five fruit or vegetable, low in saturated and total fat a day (estimated to reduce your top number-systolic blood pressure- by 8-14 mm Hg)
- Everybody knows that they should exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days, for example a fast walk (estimated to reduce your top number -systolic blood pressure- by 4-9 mm Hg
- Avoid alcohol or drink in moderation, 2 drinks a day for men, 1 drink a day for women (estimated to reduce your top number -systolic blood pressure- by 2-4mm Hg)
If you were doing these things consistently, you probably would not be reading this post. You know, this is HARD TO DO. Especially with SO MANY CHOICES IN FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS. Not to mention all the different celebrations and holidays and so many events to go to with such good foods. What to do?
What You Might Not Know
Well, the truth is, you can actually control your blood pressure with blood pressure medication alone. There are effective medications that can control your blood pressure without doing any of these lifestyle modifications. But, you probably would need more medication than you would require if in fact you were implementing the lifestyle modifications.
Don’t get me wrong. Lifestyle modifications are important for the best results. But, you know, they are HARD TO DO IMMEDIATELY AND CONSISTENTLY. Therefore, you end up not doing them at all.
The good news is that you can go at your own pace and do the lifestyle modifications a little bit at a time until it is your habit. However, keep in mind that “what got you here, won’t get you there”. The food and inactivity that has elevated your blood pressure has to be changed to lower your blood pressure without medication or with minimal medication.
In other words, the fact that you love fast foods could be what got you to the point of gaining excessive amount of weight. Obesity is a leading cause of hypertension. In order to get there-lower blood pressure using the least amount of medications, you will need to love a different kind of diet.
Again, I must admit, change is hard. That said, change don’t necessarily need to happen all at once. In fact, if you change gradually, you will likely be satisfied with the effort as well as the accomplishment.
What to do?
Work with your health care provider to find the most effective blood pressure medication for you. Go to the 2018 resistant hypertension guidelines and the 2017 hypertension guidelines for medication recommendations (see the links below under resources).
For example, your blood pressure medication regimen should at least contain potentially a long acting diuretic and a calcium channel blocker, unless contraindicated. Ask your health care provider for the best regimen for you, which might even include aldactone.
Your HEALTH CARE PROVIDER will probably start you with one medication at a time based on the severity of your blood pressure. For example, if you blood pressure is 160/80mm Hg or 130/100 mm Hg, YOU MIGHT NEED TO START WITH TWO MEDICATIONS.
1) Take the medication as prescribed but notify your doctor immediately with any problems, side effects, uncontrolled blood pressure after one week of medication. Click on this link for the 7 day pill box organizer https://amzn.to/2ID7Opv
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2) Monitor your blood pressure at home and keep either a paper log or enter your measurements in a blood pressure monitor app from the Apple App Store. Share the measurements with your health care provider whenever you call or visit the medical office. Click this link for the Omron 3 series blood pressure monitorhttps://amzn.to/2GzzngT
3) Make an appointment to follow up with your doctor at least every 2 weeks for the next 6 weeks, if your blood pressure is not controlled (<140/90 in the office or <135/85 at home).
Do this and you will have control of your blood pressure within 6 weeks. I have seen this hundreds of times. It works!!
Resources
Whelton, P., Carey, R., Aronow, W., Casey, D., Collins, K., & Himmelfarb, C., et al. (2017). ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults. American College of Cardiology
