Today, high blood pressure treatment emphasizes lifestyle as
much as medicine. Approaches to lowering blood pressure may also
involve using alternative medicines to supplement traditional
medication. In other words, sole reliance on drugs is now being
replaced by more comprehensive methods of disease management.
One of the centerpieces of this approach is replacing a
sedentary lifestyle with a more active one. Physical activity is
very helpful in reducing hypertension. Increasing levels of
physical fitness has many benefits including bringing blood
pressure closer to normal levels. Of course, taking up an
exercise regimen should be done under medical supervision,
particularly if the patient has been leading a sedentary
lifestyle. Exercise also cuts down on excess weight, which is
another factor that pushes up blood pressure above normal
levels. There is a strong correlation between obesity and
hypertension and the latter can often be controlled by taking
care of the former. Stress is a big factor in most peop