High blood pressure can be life-threatening, so it’s important to know your blood pressure reading, and what you can do to help keep things under control. Follow these 5 Simple Steps recommended by blood pressure experts from the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Know your numbers.
- Most people diagnosed with high blood pressure should stay below 140/90.
Make a plan with your provider.
- Work with your healthcare provider to lower your blood pressure and other heart disease risk factors.
Make lifestyle changes.
- These can include losing weight, eating healthier, reducing sodium, increasing activity, and quitting smoking.
Monitor blood pressure at home.
- Make a habit of checking regularly, tracking readings, and sharing them with your healthcare provider.
Take medications as prescribed.
- Take medications exactly the way your healthcare provider prescribes them.