How can I be the best partner to my medical team? Blood pressure measurement. Top number, called systolic pressure. The first, or upper, number measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats. Bottom number, called diastolic pressure. The second, or lower, number measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats.

Stage 1 hypertension. The top number is between and mm Hg or the bottom number is between 80 and 89 mm Hg. Stage 2 hypertension.

The top number is mm Hg or higher or the bottom number is 90 mm Hg or higher. Tests If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, your provider may recommend tests to check for a cause.

Ambulatory monitoring. A longer blood pressure monitoring test may be done to check blood pressure at regular times over six or 24 hours. This is called ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. However, the devices used for the test aren't available in all medical centers. Check with your insurer to see if ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is a covered service.

Lab tests. Blood and urine tests are done to check for conditions that can cause or worsen high blood pressure. For example, tests are done to check your cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

You may also have lab tests to check your kidney, liver and thyroid function. Electrocardiogram ECG or EKG. This quick and painless test measures the heart's electrical activity.

It can tell how fast or how slow the heart is beating. During an electrocardiogram ECG , sensors called electrodes are attached to the chest and sometimes to the arms or legs.

Wires connect the sensors to a machine, which prints or displays results. This noninvasive exam uses sound waves to create detailed images of the beating heart. It shows how blood moves through the heart and heart valves. Taking your blood pressure at home Your health care provider may ask you to regularly check your blood pressure at home.

Home blood pressure monitors are available at local stores and pharmacies. More Information. Blood pressure chart. Blood pressure test. Your health care provider may recommend that you make lifestyle changes including: Eating a heart-healthy diet with less salt Getting regular physical activity Maintaining a healthy weight or losing weight Limiting alcohol Not smoking Getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep daily Sometimes lifestyle changes aren't enough to treat high blood pressure.

Medications The type of medicine used to treat hypertension depends on your overall health and how high your blood pressure is. Medicines used to treat high blood pressure include: Water pills diuretics. Angiotensin-converting enzyme ACE inhibitors.

These drugs help relax blood vessels. They block the formation of a natural chemical that narrows blood vessels. Examples include lisinopril Prinivil, Zestril , benazepril Lotensin , captopril and others. Angiotensin II receptor blockers ARBs. These drugs also relax blood vessels. They block the action, not the formation, of a natural chemical that narrows blood vessels.

angiotensin II receptor blockers ARBs include candesartan Atacand , losartan Cozaar and others. Other medicines sometimes used to treat high blood pressure If you're having trouble reaching your blood pressure goal with combinations of the above medicines, your provider may prescribe: Alpha blockers.

These medicines reduce nerve signals to blood vessels. They help lower the effects of natural chemicals that narrow blood vessels. Alpha blockers include doxazosin Cardura , prazosin Minipress and others. Alpha-beta blockers.

Alpha-beta blockers block nerve signals to blood vessels and slow the heartbeat. They reduce the amount of blood that must be pumped through the vessels. Alpha-beta blockers include carvedilol Coreg and labetalol Trandate. Aldosterone antagonists. These drugs may be used to treat resistant hypertension.

They block the effect of a natural chemical that can lead to salt and fluid buildup in the body. Examples are spironolactone Aldactone and eplerenone Inspra. These medicines stop the muscles in the artery walls from tightening. This prevents the arteries from narrowing.

Examples include hydralazine and minoxidil. Central-acting agents. These medicines prevent the brain from telling the nervous system to increase the heart rate and narrow the blood vessels. Examples include clonidine Catapres, Kapvay , guanfacine Intuniv and methyldopa.

Treating resistant hypertension You may have resistant hypertension if: You take at least three different blood pressure drugs, including a diuretic. But your blood pressure remains stubbornly high.

You're taking four different medicines to control high blood pressure. Your care provider should check for a possible second cause of the high blood pressure. Treating resistant hypertension may involve many steps, including: Changing blood pressure medicines to find the best combination and dosage.

Reviewing all your medicines, including those bought without a prescription. Checking blood pressure at home to see if medical appointments cause high blood pressure.

This is called white coat hypertension. Eating healthy, managing weight and making other recommended lifestyle changes. High blood pressure during pregnancy If you have high blood pressure and are pregnant, discuss with your care providers how to control blood pressure during your pregnancy. Potential future treatments Researchers have been studying the use of heat to destroy specific nerves in the kidney that may play a role in resistant hypertension.

Request an appointment. Alpha blockers. Angiotensin II receptor blockers. Show more related information. Choosing blood pressure medicines. Beta blockers: Do they cause weight gain? Beta blockers: How do they affect exercise? Blood pressure medications: Can they raise my triglycerides?

Calcium supplements: Do they interfere with blood pressure drugs? Diuretics: A cause of low potassium? From Mayo Clinic to your inbox. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health.

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You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Clinical trials. Try these heart-healthy strategies: Eat healthy foods.

Eat a healthy diet. Try the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension DASH diet. Choose fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, fish and low-fat dairy foods. Get plenty of potassium from natural sources, which can help lower blood pressure.

Eat less saturated fat and trans fat. Use less salt. Processed meats, canned foods, commercial soups, frozen dinners and certain breads can be hidden sources of salt. Check food labels for the sodium content. Limit foods and beverages that are high in sodium.

A sodium intake of 1, mg a day or less is considered ideal for most adults. But ask your provider what's best for you. Limit alcohol. Even if you're healthy, alcohol can raise your blood pressure. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for women, and up to two drinks a day for men.

One drink equals 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1. Don't smoke. Tobacco injures blood vessel walls and speeds up the process of hardening of the arteries.

If you smoke, ask your care provider for strategies to help you quit. Maintain a healthy weight. If you're overweight or have obesity, losing weight can help control blood pressure and lower the risk of complications.

Ask your health care provider what weight is best for you. In general, blood pressure drops by about 1 mm Hg with every 2. In people with high blood pressure, the drop in blood pressure may be even more significant per kilogram of weight lost.

Practice good sleep habits. Poor sleep may increase the risk of heart disease and other chronic conditions. Adults should aim to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep daily.

Kids often need more. Go to bed and wake at the same time every day, including on weekends. If you have trouble sleeping, talk to your provider about strategies that might help. Manage stress. Find ways to help reduce emotional stress. Getting more exercise, practicing mindfulness and connecting with others in support groups are some ways to reduce stress.

Try slow, deep breathing. Practice taking deep, slow breaths to help relax. Some research shows that slow, paced breathing 5 to 7 deep breaths per minute combined with mindfulness techniques can reduce blood pressure.

There are devices available to promote slow, deep breathing. According to the American Heart Association, device-guided breathing may be a reasonable nondrug option for lowering blood pressure.

It may be an good option if you have anxiety with high blood pressure or can't tolerate standard treatments. High blood pressure and exercise. Medication-free hypertension control. Stress and high blood pressure. Blood pressure medication: Still necessary if I lose weight? Can whole-grain foods lower blood pressure?

High blood pressure and cold remedies: Which are safe? Resperate: Can it help reduce blood pressure? How to measure blood pressure using a manual monitor. How to measure blood pressure using an automatic monitor.

What is blood pressure? These supplements include: Fiber, such as blond psyllium and wheat bran Minerals, such as magnesium, calcium and potassium Folic acid Supplements or products that increase nitric oxide or widen blood vessels — called vasodilators — such as cocoa, coenzyme Q10, L-arginine and garlic Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish, high-dose fish oil supplements and flaxseed Researchers are also studying whether vitamin D can reduce blood pressure, but evidence is conflicting.

L-arginine: Does it lower blood pressure? Some things you can do to help manage the condition are: Take medicines as directed.

If side effects or costs pose problems, ask your provider about other options. Don't stop taking your medicines without first talking to a care provider. Schedule regular health checkups. It takes a team effort to treat high blood pressure successfully. Work with your provider to bring your blood pressure to a safe level and keep it there.

Know your goal blood pressure level. Choose healthy habits. Eat healthy foods, lose excess weight and get regular physical activity. If you smoke, quit. Say no to extra tasks, release negative thoughts, and remain patient and optimistic. Ask for help. Sticking to lifestyle changes can be difficult, especially if you don't see or feel any symptoms of high blood pressure.

It may help to ask your friends and family to help you meet your goals. Join a support group. You may find that talking about any concerns with others in similar situations can help. What you can do Write down any symptoms that you're having. High blood pressure rarely has symptoms, but it's a risk factor for heart disease.

Let your care provider know if you have symptoms such as chest pains or shortness of breath. Doing so can help your provider decide how aggressively to treat your high blood pressure. Write down important medical information, including a family history of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease or diabetes, and any major stresses or recent life changes.

Make a list of all medicines, vitamins or supplements that you're taking. Include dosages. Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember all the information provided to you during an appointment.

Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot. Be prepared to discuss your diet and exercise habits. If you don't already follow a diet or exercise routine, be ready to talk to your care provider about any challenges you might face in getting started. Write down questions to ask your provider.

For high blood pressure, some basic questions to ask your provider include: What kinds of tests will I need? What is my blood pressure goal? Do I need any medicines? Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing for me? What foods should I eat or avoid? What's an appropriate level of physical activity?

How often do I need to schedule appointments to check my blood pressure? Should I monitor my blood pressure at home? I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together? Are there brochures or other printed material that I can have? What websites do you recommend?

Don't hesitate to ask any other questions that you might have. What to expect from your doctor Your health care provider is likely to ask you questions. Your provider may ask: Do you have a family history of high cholesterol, high blood pressure or heart disease? What are your diet and exercise habits like?

Do you drink alcohol? How many drinks do you have in a week? Do you smoke? When did you last have your blood pressure checked? What was the result?

What you can do in the meantime It's never too early to make healthy lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, eating healthy foods and getting more exercise. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Sep 15, Show References. High blood pressure. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Accessed July 18, Flynn JT, et al. Clinical practice guideline for screening and management of high blood pressure in children and adolescents. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Department of Health and Human Services. Accessed June 15, Hypertension in adults: Screening.

Preventive Services Task Force. Thomas G, et al. Blood pressure measurement in the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in adults.

Muntner P, et al. Measurement of blood pressure in humans: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Basile J, et al. Overview of hypertension in adults. Accessed July 22, Know your risk factors for high blood pressure. American Heart Association. Rethinking drinking.

Alcohol and your health. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Libby P, et al. Systemic hypertension: Mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment.

In: Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. Elsevier; Hypertension adult. Mayo Clinic; About metabolic syndrome. Understanding blood pressure readings. Whelton PK, et al.

Monitoring your blood pressure at home. Mann JF. Choice of drug therapy in primary essential hypertension. Agasthi P, et al. Renal denervation for resistant hypertension in the contemporary era: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Scientific Reports. Chernova I, et al. Resistant hypertension updated guidelines. Current Cardiology Reports. Forman JP, et al. Diet in the treatment and prevention of hypertension. Goldman L, et al. Cognitive impairment and dementia.

In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Managing stress to control high blood pressure. Brenner J, et al. Mindfulness with paced breathing reduces blood pressure. Medical Hypothesis.

Grundy SM, et al. Natural medicines in the clinical management of hypertension. Natural Medicines. Accessed Dec. Saper RB, et al. Overview of herbal medicine and dietary supplements. Light-to-moderate drinking one drink or fewer per day is associated with a lower risk for hypertension in women, per a study following nearly 30, women.

One drink means 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1. If you are going to drink, drink moderately. A meta-analysis of 34 studies revealed that the amount of caffeine in one or two cups of coffee raises both systolic and diastolic blood pressure for up to three hours, tightening blood vessels and magnifying the effects of stress.

It turns out that lowering high blood pressure is as easy as one, two, tea. Adults with mildly high blood pressure who sipped three cups of naturally caffeine-free hibiscus tea daily lowered their systolic BP by seven points in six weeks, a study reported.

And a meta-analysis found that consuming both caffeinated and decaf green tea is associated with significantly lowering BP over time. Working overtime takes away time for exercise and healthy cooking, says Haiou Yang, Ph.

Not everyone can clock out early, but if you work a 9 to 5, try to log off at a decent hour so you can work out, cook, and relax. To get in this habit, set an end-of-day reminder on your work computer and peace out as soon as you can.

Study after study after study has shown that interrupting prolonged sitting time at work can reduce hypertension, working in tandem with other practices like exercising, eating well, and getting enough sleep.

Simply get up for a bit every 20 to 30 minutes, and at least every hour—even non-exercise activities like standing and light walking really can lower BP over time, especially if you start to sit less and less.

The right tunes and a few deep breaths can help bring your blood pressure down, according to research out of Italy. Researchers asked 29 adults who were already taking BP medication to listen to soothing classical, Celtic, or Indian music for 30 minutes daily while breathing slowly.

When they followed up with the subjects six months later, their blood pressure had dropped significantly. A meta-analysis of over 2, patients found that eating fermented foods packed with probiotics —specifically supplements made from fermented milk—was associated with a moderate reduction in blood pressure in the short term.

The culprit could be the bacteria living in these foods, which might produce certain chemicals that lower hypertension when they reach the blood. Loud, incessant snoring is a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea OSA , a disorder that causes brief but dangerous breathing interruptions.

Up to half of sleep apnea patients also live with hypertension, possibly due to high levels of aldosterone, a hormone that can boost blood pressure. Fixing sleep apnea could be helpful for improving BP, says Robert Greenfield, M. Replacing refined carbohydrates like white flour and sweets with foods high in soy or milk protein like tofu and low-fat dairy can bring down systolic blood pressure in those with hypertension, findings suggest.

Budoff, M. This may be easier said than done, but it can make a big difference in your blood pressure, says Nicole Weinberg M. According to the Mayo Clinic , as a whole, men are at higher risk for hypertension if their waist circumference is greater than 40 inches, and women are at greater risk if their waist measurement is greater than 35 inches.

Weinberg says. Knowing where you stand—and sharing those numbers with your doctor—can help you work together to find the best treatment plan for you.

When that happens, Dr. Your blood pressure is the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries, according to the CDC. Your arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body.

Your blood pressure is measured two ways:. When you get a blood pressure reading, the systolic blood pressure number is on top, and the diastolic blood pressure number is on the bottom. High blood pressure is usually managed with a combination of medication and lifestyle treatments, says Dr.

Weinberg, although she typically recommends that patients try lifestyle modifications first. While there are medications that can help do things like relax your blood vessels, make your heart beat with less force, and block nerve activity that can restrict your blood vessels, Dr.

And although medication can lower blood pressure, it may cause side effects such as leg cramps, dizziness, and insomnia. Jake Smith, an editorial fellow at Prevention, recently graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in magazine journalism and just started going to the gym.

Let's be honest—he's probably scrolling through Twitter right now. Should You Take BP While Lying Down? COVID May Trigger New-Onset High Blood Pressure.