Treatments
Diet: There are several ways to lower blood pressure. A change in diet is one such way. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension or DASH diet was designed to do so. It focuses on increasing fruits, vegetables, whole-grain foods, low-fat dairy, fish, poultry, and nuts consumed and avoiding red meats, saturated fats, and sugars.
Exercise: Another way to combat high blood pressure is through exercise. Doctors advise at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week and at least two muscle strengthening activities per week. Activities such as brisk walking, gardening, cycling and aerobic classes are recommended.
Diuretics: An alternative way to lower blood pressure are through diuretics, also called water pills. These help the body get rid of excess water and sodium. The side effect of these is that you will be urinating more than usual.
Beta-blockers: A way to help slow down your heart beat, beta-blockers can help with hypertension by easing your heart’s heavy workload. This is often a treatment for arrhythmia, which is an abnormal heart rate. This treatment for hypertension is often prescribed along with other medications.
Side effects: insomnia, dizziness, fatigue, cold hands and feet, and erectile dysfunction
ACE Inhibitors and Angiotension Receptor Blockers:
Taking ACE inhibitors (angiotensin - converting - enzyme) can give your heart an easier time because they reduce the body’s supply of angiotensin II. This is a chemical that causes your blood vessels to contract and narrow. With less angiotensin II, you will have more relaxed and open arteries, thus reducing your blood pressure rate. Similarly, you can take pills to block the receptors for angiotensin II. These pills can take several weeks to be effective.
Side effects of ACE inhibitors: dry cough, skin rash, or dizziness, and high levels of potassium.
Side effects of Angiotensin II block receptors: dizziness, muscle cramps, insomnia, and high levels of potassium.
Calcium Channel Blockers: Another part of the body, you could block to fight hypertension is your calcium channel. Calcium causes your heart to contract strongly. Blockers slow the movement of calcium in your blood vessels and heart cells, resulting in your heart being contracted more gently and more relaxed blood. These pills need to be taken with milk or food, and you should avoid alcohol and grapefruit juice because they have possible interactions.
Calcium channel blockers side effects: dizziness, heart palpitations, swelling of the ankles, and constipation.
Medications and Complementary Therapies: Your doctor might suggest other blood pressure medications such as vasodilators, alpha blockers, and central agonists. Along with lifestyle changes, doctors also might recommend complementary therapies such as meditation, yoga, tai chi and deep breathing. These relaxation techniques can allow your body to enter a state of deep rest, and lower blood pressure. Herbal therapies are not recommended because they often interfere with blood pressure medication.