A high sodium intake can increase BP, especially in African-Americans, the elderly, patients with existing hypertension, and patients with diabetes. Encourage your patient to eat unsalted, unprocessed foods and to read labels when shopping. Consume enough potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Plenty of potassium in the diet helps decrease BP, so eating potassium-rich fruits and vegetables may improve BP control. Administering potassium supplements to a patient who's hypokalemic as a result of diuretic therapy also combats hypertension.
Cigarette smoking is one of the leading risk factors of hypertension and heart disease.
Smoking also inhibits the effect of antihypertensive medication, so techniques for stopping must be an integral part of patient education. Counseling, support groups, and aids to stop smoking are very effective. Because many people who stop gain weight, make sure a weight management and exercise program is part of the plan. He agrees to participate in a company-sponsored exercise program at the local gym. When to medicate The degree of BP elevation and target organ damage and the presence of other risk factors determine whether the patient requires pharmacologic therapy for hypertension.