Final answer:
Some recommended lifestyle modifications to treat essential hypertension include reducing salt intake, adopting a healthier diet, engaging in regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption, and quitting smoking.
Step-by-step explanation:
Essential hypertension can be treated through lifestyle modifications that help to lower blood pressure to the normal range. Some recommended modifications include:
- Reducing salt intake: Limiting the amount of sodium (salt) in the diet can help lower blood pressure.
- Adopting a healthier diet: Eating a healthy diet, such as the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy products, can help lower blood pressure.
- Engaging in regular exercise: Getting enough exercise, such as cardio exercises like walking or jogging, can help lower blood pressure. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.
- Maintaining a healthy weight: Losing weight if overweight or maintaining a healthy weight can help lower blood pressure.
- Limiting alcohol consumption: Avoid excessive alcohol consumption, as it can raise blood pressure.
- Quitting smoking: Smoking can contribute to high blood pressure, so quitting or avoiding smoking is important.