How To Control High Blood Pressure At Home

Home Monitoring And Blood Pressure Goals

Home blood pressure monitoring can help guide your treatment by showing whether your medicines are working or if you need to take a different approach. A study published in March 2013 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes found that people who monitored their blood pressure at home were more likely to reach their blood pressure goals than those who were monitored only by their doctor.

Anyone who has high blood pressure, or is at risk for it, can benefit from home blood pressure monitoring, especially women with diabetes or kidney disease. You might also want to consider taking your blood pressure at home if your levels tend to fluctuate. Getting an accurate accounting of the variations will help your doctor better treat your blood pressure.

Women with symptoms such as dizziness or headaches can also take regular readings “to see if their symptoms correlate to their blood pressure,” Dr. Zusman says.

Some conditions can make it harder to take your own blood pressureparticularly if you have an irregular heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation. If this is uncontrolled, you may not be able to get an accurate reading with a home blood pressure monitor. Even if your arrhythmia is controlled, you may need to take your blood pressure several times in a row for accuracy.

If you’re interested in home blood pressure monitoring, here’s how to get started.

Small Changes Can Make A Big Difference In Your Blood Pressure Numbers

If you suddenly find yourself with high blood pressure under the new guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, you might be wondering what to do. The guidelines lowered the definition for high blood pressure to 130/80 from 140/90 millimeters of mercury , meaning more people now meet the criteria for stage 1 hypertension.

While you shouldn’t shrug off the change, there’s also no need to panic. “Obviously, nothing happened overnight inside a woman’s body or to her health with the release of the guidelines,” says Dr. Naomi Fisher, director of hypertension service and hypertension innovation at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

The change, however, should spur you to take your blood pressure seriously. “These guidelines have been long anticipated and are very welcome by most hypertension experts. They may seem drastic, but in putting the knowledge we’ve gained from large trials into clinical practice, they will help thousands of people,” says Dr. Fisher.

Prevention Detection Evaluation: Treating High Blood Pressure At Home

To prevent or treat hypertensive urgency at home, you’ll want to take a good, hard look at your heart health, and try to lower your blood pressure naturally. Always meet with your healthcare provider about antihypertensive medications , and monitor your blood pressure daily.

After meeting with your doctor to discuss medications, we recommend taking the following steps:

Monitor your blood pressure: Purchase an at-home blood pressure monitor .

Record your readings: Take your blood pressure reading daily, and write it down. Store it in a log, whether it’s a legal pad or printed spreadsheet.

Keep your readings close-by: Store your blood pressure log and a list of the medications you take in a folder by your phone, near the entrance to your home, or in another easily accessible area. In the case of an emergency, you can tell medics to grab your folder.

Your doctor will also discuss potential lifestyle changes with you. If you enjoy an evening glass of wine or whiskey on the rocks, you may want to cut back. You will also want to limit your caffeine intake and any tobacco products. Try your best to stay on top of daily exercise, as directed by your physical therapist.

Also Check: Can I Take Claritin If I Have High Blood Pressure

Keep Track Of Your Blood Pressure

Monitoring your blood pressure at home can tell you if certain lifestyle changes are working to lower your blood pressure. It can also alert you and your doctor to potential complications you are facing.

A blood pressure monitor can be purchased at the pharmacy without a prescription. If you are living with high blood pressure talk to your doctor about home monitoring and she can help you get started.

Your doctor can help you control your high blood pressure. Regular doctor visits are an important component of keeping your blood pressure in line naturally. Ask your doctor how many times she would like you to check your blood pressure at home and how often.

If your doctor decides to make changes to your daily medications, she may recommend starting to check your blood pressure two weeks after the change.

What Is Blood Pressure

Healthy blood pressure is essential for survival. Without the pressure that pushes our blood to circulate the circulatory system, no oxygen or nutrients would be supplied to the tissues and organs via our arteries.

Blood pressure, on the other hand, can become dangerously high or dangerously low.

This article will discuss blood pressure, ranges, how it is measured, signs and symptoms, causes and problems caused, home treatments, and when to seek medical assistance from hospital authorities.

You May Like: Can You Reverse Pulmonary Hypertension

Decrease Your Salt Intake

Salt is the enemy of high blood pressure, says Dr. Desai. When you eat too much salt, it increases the amount of fluid that enters the bloodstream and arteries from the surrounding tissue, which raises the pressure in the arteries.

While you may not have to remove salt from your diet completely, avoid foods very high in salt like chips, french fries, salted nuts, soups, store-bought salad dressings, processed foods and cheese.

Choosing A Home Blood Pressure Monitor

The American Heart Association recommends an automatic, cuff-style, bicep monitor.

• Wrist and finger monitors are not recommended because they yield less reliable readings.
• Choose a monitor that has been validated. If you are unsure, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice or find options at validatebp.org.
• When selecting a blood pressure monitor for a senior, pregnant woman or child, make sure it is validated for these conditions.
• Make sure the cuff fits measure around your upper arm and choose a monitor that comes with the correct size cuff.

Also Check: Pain Increase Blood Pressure

The Best Emergency Treatment For High Blood Pressure At Home Is Prevention

High blood pressure is common for people in their 60s and 70s. For the most part, high blood pressure comes with no symptoms attached. You may have to limit your morning cups of coffee, but beyond that, you can have high blood pressure and rarely notice it.

The complications of high blood pressure come when your blood pressure raises to dangerous levels, known as a hypertensive crisis. To prepare for this scenario, you should know the warning signs and know when to call 911.

The best at-home treatment for high blood pressure is always preventative treatment. Monitor your levels daily, keep an accessible log of all medications, and stay on top of exercise.

Lastly, install the Snug App on your phone so you can check in daily, ensuring your loved ones that youre looked after. If you miss a check-in, well alert your loved ones for you. That way, they can check up on you in case you need help.

How To Treat High Blood Pressure Naturally At Home Best Natural Treatments:

In addition, you should ensure taking your blood pressure medication as directed by a prestigious doctor and regularly check the levels of your bodys blood pressure.

This is actually a very serious health issue, so today, in this article, I would like to reveal some of the best natural tips on how to treat high blood pressure naturally at home people should try to get rid of the problem fast. Here are the home remedies you should learn about:

10. Lemon

Recommended Reading: Does Claritin Affect Blood Pressure

Bottle Gourd Juice An Empty Stomach

Increased blood pressure can damage your nerves and tissues that cause a heart attack or sudden heart failure. Bottle gourd juice is a great panacea for treating high blood pressure and for clogged arteries.

Way to Use

• You just need to grate or blend fresh gourd in the mixer or grater and squeeze the juice in a thin cotton cloth and drink this immediately en empty stomach.
• Make sure that you do not eat for 1 hour after drinking gourd juice and never leave it after squeezing try to drink instantly.
• It is Best home remedy to lower blood pressure instantly.

If you do not like gourd juice then try to start with a minimum quaintly then slowly increase it. It will open your clogged arteries and also help to control your sugar and cholesterol levels. It will reduce the LDL level as well.

It is easily available and very easy to make, try this drink for sure and see the results within 7 days.

Consider Cutting Back On Caffeine

Caffeine raises your blood pressure, but the effect is temporary.

In a 2017 study, the systolic blood pressure of 18 participants was elevated for 2 hours after they drank 32 ounces of either a caffeinated drink or an energy drink. Blood pressure then dropped more quickly for the participants who drank a caffeinated drink .

Some people may be more sensitive to caffeine than others. If youre caffeine-sensitive, you may want to cut back on your coffee consumption, or try .

Research on caffeine, including its health benefits, is in the news a lot. The choice of whether to cut back depends on many individual factors.

One older study indicated that caffeines effect on raising blood pressure is greater if your blood pressure is already high. This same study, however, called for more research on the subject .

If your blood pressure is very high or doesnt decrease after making these lifestyle changes, your doctor may recommend prescription drugs.

They work and will improve your long-term outcome, especially if you have other risk factors (

Recommended Reading: Vinegar And High Blood Pressure

Holy Basil And Neem Leaves

Basil leaves or also known as Tulsi, which is a famous plant that cures numbers of diseases, and in India, people do worship Tulsi.

Controlling high blood pressure is also its countable benefit so Neem leaves are also very helpful for hypertension or high blood pressure.

Way to Use

• Take 2 Neem leaves and 5 Tulsi leaves and crush well with some water and mix well. Drink this water an empty stomach in the morning time.
• Repeat this remedy regularly for 1 week and you will see positive changes in your increased blood pressure.

Tulsi and Neem include anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties. Also, they have several components that control your blood circulation and clean blocked arteries.

Cut Back On Sugar And Refined Carbohydrates

Many studies show that restricting sugar and refined carbohydrates can help you lose weight and lower your blood pressure.

Sugar, especially fructose, may increase your blood pressure more than salt, according to one 2014 review. In trials lasting at least 8 weeks, sugar increased blood pressure by 5.6 mm Hg diastolic and 6.9 mm Hg systolic .

A 2020 study that compared various popular diets found that for people who with more weight or obesity, low carb and low fat diets lowered their diastolic blood pressure by an average of about 5 mm Hg and their systolic blood pressure 3 mm Hg after 6 months .

Another benefit of a low carb, low sugar diet is that you feel fuller longer, because youre consuming more protein and fat.

Also Check: Medicine To Lower Blood Pressure

Homeopathic Remedies For High Blood Pressure

Homeopathic remedies are natural remedies for instant and quick relief.

1. Lachesis

Lachesis is a very powerful and leading homeopathic remedy for high blood pressure. Lachesis lowers down the borderline high blood pressure. This remedy can be consumed in order to get instant relief in high blood pressure.

2. Amyl nitrosum

Amyl nitrosum is consumed when patient feels restlessness, and his/her face becomes red due to high blood pressure. They start to sweat and feel a hot sensation.

3. Natrum muriaticum

This homeopathic remedy can be consumed when patients blood pressure is high due to too much consumption of sodium.

4. Glonoinum

This homeopathic remedy can be given when patient complains about severe headaches along with high blood pressure and dizziness.

Other homeopathic remedies that can be consumed are Plumbum, Argentum nitricum, Belladonna, Aurum metallicum, Natrum muriaticum, Sanguinaria, and Nux vomica.

Buy A Blood Pressure Monitor

Pharmacies and online merchants sell a variety of blood pressure monitors. Monitors typically range in price from $50 to $100, although a higher price doesn’t necessarily correlate to better quality. Ask your health insurance company whether it will cover part or all of the cost.

When shopping for a blood pressure monitor, look for these features:

• Buy a monitor that goes around your upper arm. Dr. Zusman doesn’t recommend wrist or finger monitors because they aren’t as accurate.

• An automatic monitor is easiest to use, because it doesn’t require a stethoscope and the cuff inflates by itself. Manual monitors require you to squeeze a bulb to inflate the cuff, which can be hard to do if you have arthritis.

• Choose a monitor that meets standards for your age and health conditions according to an organization such as the European Society of Hypertension, dabl Educational Trust, or the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation . Each organization has posted its list of approved devices on its website.

• Make sure the cuff fits your arm. If it’s too large or too small, the reading won’t be accurate.

• Check that the numbers on the dial or display are large enough for you to read clearly.

• Determine what other features you want in a blood pressure monitor. Some monitors will take an average of your last few readings, record your measurements over time, and send them to your doctor via your smartphone.

Read Also: Spicy Food Blood Pressure

What You Can Do To Lower Your Blood Pressure

What isn’t a mystery is that lifestyle changes can play a big part in reducing and controlling blood pressure levels. These include cutting back on dietary salt, quitting smoking, eating a plant-based diet, exercising regularly, losing excess weight, and managing stress.

Here are a few simple suggestions from 500 Time-Tested Home Remedies and the Science Behind Them for enhancing your diet and managing stress.

Eat Fish. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil from fatty fish such as sardines, mackerel, and salmon have been shown to reduce blood pressure in people with mild hypertension. Here’s an easy recipe for a quick snack or lunch that’ll provide omega-3s:

• 1 can oil-packed sardines
• 12-16 whole-grain crackers
• Lemon wedges
• Sprigs of parsley

Your Bp Is Recorded As Two Numbers

When taking your blood pressure, keep in mind that your BP has two numbers: systolic and diastolic.

The systolic is the top number and its the pressure on your arteries when the heart beats, said Dr. Sachdev. The diastolic is the bottom number and its the pressure in between beats.

Both numbers get taken into consideration by your doctor to figure out if you have high BP and if so, what to do for treatment, she added.

Related Coverage

Read Also: How Does Alcohol Increase Blood Pressure Mechanism

A Path To Lasting Lifestyle Change

Give your patients the advice they need to set and achieve sustainable health goals. Explore AMA’s resources to help patients create healthy habits.

The AMAs What Doctors Wish Patients Knew series provides physicians with a platform to share what they want patients to understand about todays health care headlines, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

For this installment, Neha Sachdev, MD, a family physician who is the director of health systems relationships at the AMA, shared what she and her physician colleagues wish patients knew about high blood pressure.

How Can I Lower My Blood Pressure Naturally Over Time

Now that weve discussed why theres no fail-proof, safe, and fast way to lower blood pressure, remember, there are still many ways to lower your blood pressure over time. Here are some simple recommendations:

• Exercise most days of the week. Exercise is the most effective way to lower your blood pressure. Being physically active at least 30 minutes a day most days of the week goes a long way toward keeping or getting your blood pressure under control.

• Consume a low-sodium diet. Too much sodium causes blood pressure to rise. The AHA recommends keeping your daily sodium intake to less than 2 grams, but keeping it less than 1.5 grams is even better! The DASH diet provides a low-sodium eating plan for you to use as an example.

• Limit alcohol intake to no more than 1 to 2 drinks per day. Drinking more than average1 drink for women and 2 drinks for mencan cause your blood pressure to rise. Plus, alcohol can cause you to pack on the pounds, which can also lead to an increase in blood pressure.

• Make stress reduction a priority. Stressful situations can cause your blood pressure to go up temporarily. But if you continue to be stressed, your blood pressure can remain high. Find calming activities you can do every day to help you relieve stress. Coloring, walking outside, listening to relaxing music, and even taking a warm bath can help you keep you lower your stress levels.

Don’t Miss: Does Claritin D Raise Blood Pressure

Effective Home Remedies To Control Blood Pressure

1. Fenugreek seeds

These Fenugreek or Methi seeds are very beneficial to control high blood pressure. They contain large amounts of vitamins A, B, C, iron, phosphorus, calcium and potassium. Thus, consume these seeds on daily basis and your blood pressure under control.

2. Banana

Banana is very rich in potassium. It is to be noted that potassium-rich items are considered very beneficial for controlling high blood pressure. Banana can also reduce the amount of sodium in the body. BP patients can eat 2 to 3 bananas in a day.

3. Garlic

Garlic is a great food to control high blood pressure. Consuming one bud garlic daily can do wonders. It can also be excellent for cholesterol.