Living With High Blood Pressure: Your Daily Guide
Medical-Surgical · Cardiovascular
High blood pressure damages your heart, brain, and kidneys, even when you feel well. Daily treatment and home checks help protect them.
Get ready to check
- Use an upper-arm monitor with a cuff that fits.
- Avoid smoking, caffeine, and exercise for 30 minutes before checking.
- Empty your bladder. Sit quietly for 5 minutes.
Measure and write it down
- Support your back. Keep feet flat and legs uncrossed.
- Rest your bare arm at heart level. Do not talk.
- Take 2 readings, 1 minute apart, at the same times daily.
- Record both. Your usual goal is below 130/80 mm Hg.
- Your personal goal: ____________.
Choose foods with less salt
- Choose vegetables, fruit, whole grains, beans, and low-fat dairy.
- Keep sodium below 2,300 mg daily; 1,500 mg suits many people.
- Your sodium goal: ____________ mg daily.
Move often and limit alcohol
- Aim for 150 minutes of moderate activity each week, as advised.
- Avoid alcohol. If you drink, limit it to 2 drinks daily for men or 1 for women.
- One drink: 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor.
Take medicine every day
- Take it as directed, even when you feel well.
- Ask before using cold medicines, ibuprofen, or naproxen.
- Do not change doses yourself.
Call your provider today if you have
- A top number above 180 OR a bottom number above 120 without symptoms: wait at least 1 minute and check again. If still high, call immediately.
- Repeated dizziness or readings outside your care team's limits
Call 911 or your local emergency number if you have
- Very high pressure with chest pain, trouble breathing, severe back pain, or vision changes
- Sudden weakness, trouble speaking, confusion, or fainting at any reading
- Do not wait to recheck when these symptoms occur.