30
Blood Pressure Management
5.1. Lifestyle and Psychosocial Approaches
COR LOE
Recommendations
Weight
1 A
1. In adults who have overweight or obesity, weight loss is
recommended with a goal of at least 5% of body weight
reduction to prevent or treat elevated BP and hypertension.
Diet and Nutrients
1 A
2. In adults with or without hypertension, a heart-healthy eating
pattern, such as the DASH eating plan, is recommended to
prevent or treat elevated BP and hypertension.
1 A
3. In adults with or without hypertension, reduction of dietary
sodium intake* is recommended to <2,300 mg/day, moving
toward an ideal limit of <1,500 mg/day to prevent or treat
elevated BP and hypertension.
2a A
4. In adults with or without hypertension, potassium-based salt
substitutes
†
can be useful to prevent or treat elevated BP and
hypertension, particularly for patients in whom salt intake
is related mostly to food preparation or flavoring at home,
except in the presence of CKD or use of drugs that reduce
potassium excretion where monitoring of serum potassium
levels is indicated
‡
.
1 A
5. In adults with elevated BP or hypertension, moderate
potassium supplementation
§
, ideally from dietary sources,
is recommended to prevent or treat elevated BP and
hypertension, except in the presence of CKD or use of drugs
that reduce potassium excretion where monitoring of serum
potassium levels is indicated.
‡
Alcohol
1 A
6. Adults with or without hypertension who currently consume
alcohol should be advised to pursue a recommended goal of
abstinence, or at least to reduce alcohol intake to ≤1 drink/
day for women and ≤2 drinks/day for men to prevent or treat
elevated BP and hypertension
||
.
Physical activity
1 A
7. In adults with or without hypertension, increasing physical
activity, through a structured exercise program that includes
aerobic exercise and/or resistance training, is recommended
to prevent or treat elevated BP and hypertension.
