Lower your blood pressure, not your expectations
Being told you have high blood pressure can often come as a surprise. After all, you were probably feeling just fine—high blood pressure (hypertension) is usually “silent,” meaning it doesn’t cause any symptoms.
But knowing you have high blood pressure can be a good thing.
Unlike the millions of people with undiagnosed hypertension, you now can get the information you need to make positive changes to prolong or improve your life.
Here are four simple steps you can take to “reset” the way you think about your high blood pressure diagnosis.
Accept & Adjust
High blood pressure may not cause symptoms, but it can take a significant toll on your health if left unchecked. So, the sooner you accept that you need to make changes, the better your long-term health is likely to be.
These strategies can help:
- Talk to friends and family. By sharing that you have high blood pressure, it becomes just another part of your life—something you consider when making daily choices, but nothing to be anxious or embarrassed about.
- View your diagnosis as an opportunity for change. You may not be able to change the fact that you have hypertension, but you can definitely alter its outcome. Look at how you’ve been living, decide what isn’t working, and ask yourself “What can I change to be happier, healthier or stronger?”
Put Yourself in the Driver’s Seat
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you can just keep living as you have been and that your doctor will make any needed changes in your treatment plan or medication. Your doctor can give you the roadmap to follow, but you need to stay in the driver’s seat.
Even if your treatment plan includes medication, pills are only part of the equation. Lifestyle changes are a big part of the treatment of high blood pressure. And let’s face it—your doctor isn’t going to call you each day to remind you to take a walk, or replace your fries at lunch with apple slices. Your doctor provides the treatment plan, but it’s up to you to set it in motion—and keep it going.
Knowing that it’s within your power to help control your blood pressure is the first step towards change. Putting yourself in charge can also take the anxiety out of your diagnosis—and help build confidence.