From the Guidelines
To manage your hypertension effectively, you should combine medication with significant lifestyle changes, including a healthy diet, regular exercise, and stress management, as these approaches have been shown to reduce blood pressure and the risk of complications like heart attack and stroke. Your treatment plan, as recommended by the most recent guidelines 1, will likely include medications such as ACE inhibitors or ARBs, and lifestyle modifications such as reducing sodium intake to less than 2,300mg daily, following the DASH diet, exercising for 150 minutes of moderate activity weekly, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption, and managing stress effectively, all of which are crucial for achieving and maintaining blood pressure control and reducing the risk of cardiovascular events.
From the FDA Drug Label
PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION Tell patients to report light-headedness especially during the first few days of therapy Tell patients that excessive perspiration and dehydration may lead to an excessive fall in blood pressure because of reduction in fluid volume Other causes of volume depletion such as vomiting or diarrhea may also lead to a fall in blood pressure; advise patients accordingly. You should tell a patient with hypertension to report any signs of low blood pressure, such as light-headedness, especially during the first few days of therapy with lisinopril, and to be aware that dehydration or volume depletion can lead to a fall in blood pressure 2. You should also advise them to monitor their condition and report any concerns to their physician promptly.
From the Research
Treatment and Management of Hypertension
- You can tell the patient that the goal of hypertension treatment is to lower blood pressure to less than 130/80 mm Hg, and that this can be achieved through lifestyle modifications, such as weight loss, healthy dietary patterns, physical activity, and moderation of alcohol consumption, as well as medication therapy if necessary 3.
- It's also important to communicate effectively with the patient, using clear and simple language, and to involve them in the decision-making process, taking into account their preferences and values, and providing them with the necessary information to make informed decisions about their care 4, 5.