Blood
pressure can fluctuate throughout the day. White coat hypertension
occurs when the blood pressure readings at the doctor's office are higher than
other settings, such as your home. This is because of being anxious. In order to confirm that you actually
have high blood pressure, several readings are needed. A standard way to
measure high blood pressure is with an electronic machine after five quiet
minutes in the examination room. Alternatively, you may have your blood
pressure measured over a period of 24 hours with a specialized home monitor or
keep logs of your blood pressure readings taken at home.
Important Lifestyle Interventions
for Hypertension
- Blood pressure often increases as weight increases. Weight loss is one of the most effective lifestyle changes for controlling blood pressure. Losing even a small amount of weight if you're overweight or obese helps reduce your blood pressure.
- Adopt a healthy diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, poultry and fish.
- Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. Drinking more than moderate amounts of alcohol can actually raise blood pressure by several points. It can also reduce the effectiveness of blood pressure medications.
- Quit smoking. Each cigarette you smoke increases your blood pressure for many minutes after you finish. Quitting smoking can reduce your risk of heart disease and improve your overall health.
- Chronic stress may contribute to high blood pressure. Take some time to think about what causes you to feel stressed, such as work, family, finances or illness.
