Combining antihypertensive medication with lifestyle changes: A two-pronged strategy for hypertension management

The use of antihypertensive drugs should be combined with lifestyle adjustments: Hypertension is related to lifestyle. It has been proven that excessive salt intake and obesity increase the risk of hypertension. Therefore, in addition to medication, lifestyle adjustments, i.e., non-pharmacological treatment, are necessary for hypertension. Non-pharmacological treatment for hypertension includes four aspects: weight loss, dietary changes, dietary restrictions, and exercise.

(1) Exercise and dietary restrictions: Overweight and obesity are risk factors for elevated blood pressure. To determine if your weight is normal, use the following formula: Standard weight (kg) = Height (cm) - 105. For example, the standard weight for a person 170 cm tall is 65 kg. If your weight is within ±10% of the standard weight, it is considered normal; more than 10% is overweight; and more than 20% is obese.

(2) Modify dietary structure: Excessive sodium intake can raise blood pressure, so salt intake should be reduced to 5-6 grams per day. Insufficient potassium intake can cause hypertension; therefore, more vegetables and fruits should be consumed to supplement potassium. Low calcium can also raise blood pressure; milk, mushrooms, and black fungus can be consumed to supplement calcium. Excessive fat intake is also related to high blood pressure, so fat intake should be reduced.

(3) Limit alcohol consumption: Small amounts of alcohol have no effect on blood pressure, but large amounts will definitely raise blood pressure. Therefore, hypertensive patients should ideally abstain from alcohol or drink only in small amounts.

(4) Strengthen physical exercise: Some hypertensive patients often ask: Will exercise raise blood pressure? In fact, exercise can treat hypertension. Some endurance training and aerobic exercises such as brisk walking, running, cycling, swimming, and skiing can lower blood pressure, but weightlifting has a less significant effect. Therefore, exercise is beneficial for hypertensive patients. However, the amount of exercise should be gradually increased. Exercise is contraindicated for patients with blood pressure exceeding 220/110 mmHg, or those with aortic dissection, aneurysm, or acute cerebrovascular disease.

The above methods can lower the blood pressure of patients with mild hypertension (diastolic blood pressure below 105 mmHg) to a certain extent, and can reduce the dosage and types of antihypertensive drugs for patients with moderate to severe hypertension, achieving satisfactory antihypertensive effects.