Managing blood pressure

Here are some lifestyle factors that can raise blood pressure (usually, the goal is less than 130/80):

• Tobacco use

• Alcohol use

• Salt intake 

• Certain medications (NSAIDs like ibuprofen; decongestants; birth control pills; antidepressants)

• Sleep apnea that is inadequately treated

• Elevated body weight/obesity

• Inadequate exercise (both aerobic and strength training)

• Inadequate sleep (goal is 7+ hours)

And here is how you can counteract high blood pressure:

• Lifestyle modification (reducing/eliminating tobacco, alcohol, medications that may increase blood pressure)

• Consider switching table salt to potassium salt (Mortons makes a good product), as long as you don’t have chronic kidney disease

• Powerbreathe device - Perform 30 resisted breaths daily for 6 weeks and you should see a BP drop by 8 points systolic (top number) and 4 points diastolic (bottom number).

• Medications are inexpensive and well-tolerated and work well for people in whom the above measures aren’t adequate to keep blood pressure under 130/80