Blood pressure: What you can do for yourself
Studies consistently show that lowering blood pressure significantly lowers the risk of stroke and also, though less dramatically, the risk of heart attacks, heart failure and kidney problems. Drugs may be necessary sometimes, especially when blood pressure is dangerously high, but other things can help. Maybe you need to exercise a little harder and eat a little less (or sleep a little longer and stress a little less). As you read, bear in mind: The evidence for blood pressure-lowering is stronger for some lifestyle measures than others.
-- Articles by Karen Ravn
February 8, 2010
The basics of blood pressure
How is blood pressure measured? How high should your blood pressure be? How do you know you have high blood pressure? Read about the basics of blood pressure here.
February 8, 2010
Blood pressure: the DASH diet
The effects of the DASH diet were comparable to the effects of a single blood-pressure-lowering drug and, if everyone ate that way, the occurrence of heart disease and stroke could go down.
February 8, 2010
Blood pressure: salt
Everybody needs salt, but health experts generally agree that most Americans get too much of it.
February 8, 2010
Blood pressure: potassium, fish oil and fiber
Results haven't been unanimous, but a good deal of research suggests that healthy doses of potassium can help lower your blood pressure.
February 8, 2010
Blood pressure: exercise
Blood pressure can drop in just a few weeks of regular exercise. It can also pop right back up if you stop exercising.
February 8, 2010
Blood pressure: sleep
It's wise to pay attention to your blood pressure -- but don't lose sleep over it. That may make matters worse.
February 8, 2010
Blood pressure: stress reduction
Everyone agrees that stressful situations make your blood pressure take off. It's the fight-or-flight, prepare-to-do-something-dramatic response your ancient ancestors had when being charged by a woolly mammoth.
February 8, 2010
Blood pressure: weight loss
Even modest weight loss is effective at lowering blood pressure for those who have high blood pressure or prehypertension. But the way you lose the weight may matter.
February 8, 2010
Blood pressure: alcohol, smoking and caffeine
Is having a bad habit ever a good thing? It kind of can be if your aim is to lower your blood pressure, since one way to do that is to reduce your alcohol consumption significantly.
February 8, 2010
Lifestyle change can affect blood pressure, but it's not the whole story
It's also really tricky to add up the effect of all these individual actions because so many of them are interconnected.
February 8, 2010
Blood pressure drugs need to match the situation
For some people, lifestyle measures are enough to keep blood pressure under control. But they're not enough for everyone.
February 8, 2010
The Future: Blood pressure trial at USC
Some patients do all the right things -- make every recommended lifestyle choice, take their drugs completely as prescribed -- and they still can't get their blood pressure down. A trial now underway may offer them new hope.
Copyright © 2012, Los Angeles Times
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