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own blood pressure at home to track changes and to help their doctor adjust their treatment as needed. Home blood pressure cuffs are usually reasonably accurate and can be checked against a doctor's measurements to be sure.

HEALTH RISKS
High blood pressure causes both the heart and the kidneys to work much harder. It can damage arteries and the delicate tubules inside the kidneys. People with hypertension are at higher risk for strokes, heart failure, heart attack, kidney failure, and problems with the retina.

TREATMENT
Some people respond to lifestyle changes, such as moderate exercise, sensible weight loss, stopping smoking, reducing sodium in the diet, and eating plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. In cases where these measures aren't sufficient, drugs may be used, such as diuretics that reduce water retention, ACE inhibitors that dilate blood vessels, beta blockers that slow the heart beat, or calcium channel blockers that reduce the workload on the heart and dilate blood vessels. Some promising research has been done with fish oils, though more work is needed to understand their effects.

PREVENTING HYPERTENSION
If you don't have hypertension now, you can reduce your risks of developing the disease in the future. Reduce the high-sodium foods in your diet, and replace them with more fresh produce and whole grains. Watch your weight, and moderate your diet if you begin to gain. Limit drinking and don't smoke. Get regular exercise, especially low-impact aerobic exercise such as walking or bicycling. Learn to deal constructively with stress to reduce its negative effects. By taking measures that are used to treat hypertension, you can often ward off hypertension even if it runs in your family.

Learn more about this author, Karen Bledsoe.
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