A friend recently told me in a mysterious way, “You know what? My high blood pressure can not take medication!” Looking at my friend’s mysterious appearance, worried that he was being fooled, I hurried to ask why – think about his blood pressure with several drugs to control, how can all of a sudden do not need to take medication? In my pursuit, my friend took out a delicate pamphlet, similar to the secret of martial arts secretly handed me, “non-pharmacological treatment of hypertension” a few big words into the eyes. Indeed, non-pharmacological treatment of hypertension has become quite popular in recent years, and is increasingly being emphasized by doctors and patients. But what are the specific measures of “non-pharmacological treatment of hypertension”? After checking the “China Guidelines for the Primary Management of Hypertension 2014”, I found that the recommendations of the guidelines mainly cover the following points: First, reduce salt intake In daily life, the main sources of salt are cooking salt and pickled, brined and soaked foods. Reducing sodium salt intake can reduce the sodium content of the blood vessel wall, reduce vascular reactivity, and thus help lower blood pressure. Several studies have confirmed that salt restriction can not only effectively control blood pressure, but also reduce the occurrence of hypertension-related complications. In May 2016, the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2016) was officially released. The guidelines recommend that the daily salt intake of Chinese residents be controlled at 6g; however, in fact, the per capita salt intake of Chinese residents is much higher than this figure. Second, reasonable diet Reducing dietary fat intake, achieving balanced nutrition, and controlling total calories, and appropriately increasing fiber intake can slow down atherosclerosis and increase the brittleness of blood vessel walls, but also effective weight control, thus improving blood pressure control and lowering blood pressure. Third, regular exercise Regular physical exercise and sports can effectively improve physical fitness. Through regular aerobic exercise such as walking, brisk walking, swimming, tai chi and other training after, can achieve the purpose of reducing body weight, enhance physical fitness, and beneficial to control blood pressure. Sector sister previously pushed the article, “I can not imagine, China’s cardiac rehabilitation has this advantage! An article has introduced, China’s traditional exercise (Tai Chi) can effectively improve the physiological and biochemical results of cardiovascular disease patients, improve physical function, quality of life and depression. However, it must be noted that although exercise is good, it must be measured, gradual, and patients with moderate to severe hypertension must avoid competitive sports activities. Weight control Overweight (BMI ≥ 24kg/m2) or obesity (BMI ≥ 28kg/m2) is an independent risk factor for hypertension; and the higher the weight, the greater the likelihood of developing hypertension under the same conditions. Therefore, weight control can effectively reduce the cardiac load and sympathetic nerve tone, and achieve effective control of blood pressure. Generally speaking, body weight should be controlled to keep within the range of BMI<24kg/m2, and avoid the occurrence of central obesity (male waist circumference≥90cm, female waist circumference≥85cm). Fifth, quit smoking Smoking can be said to be all the harm to the body: increase the incidence of coronary atherosclerosis, increase the brittleness of the blood vessel wall, increase the sympathetic nerve tone, and promote the release of some endocrine hormones into the blood, thereby raising blood pressure. Therefore, smoking cessation can be significantly favorable to the control of blood pressure, and benefit a lot. Sixth, limit the consumption of alcohol "amount" with the level of blood pressure was significantly positively correlated. Some experts have claimed that about 5%~10% of hypertensive patients are caused by drinking, and the hypertension caused by drinking is generally reversible, i.e., quitting drinking can make the blood pressure return to normal. Even in non-drinking patients with hypertension, abstinence from alcohol can also play a role in reducing the role of nerve excitability, so that vasodilatation, reduce peripheral vascular resistance, thus more effective control of blood pressure. In addition, excessive alcohol consumption has the potential to cause alcoholic cardiomyopathy. In my humble opinion, there is a kind of heart disease that you can only get if you drink alcohol, do you know it? An article has been explained in detail, not to repeat here. Seven, psychological balance Hypertensive disease is essentially a psychosomatic disease, psychological changes and blood pressure has a close connection. Excessive psychological burden, anxiety, depression, fear, disappointment and other negative emotions will affect the body's neuroendocrine system, thus raising blood pressure. Therefore, maintaining optimism, correcting bad emotions, relieving psychological pressure, and conducting effective psychological counseling, etc. can help the organism better control blood pressure. So, can all patients use non-pharmacological treatment to control blood pressure? Non-pharmacological treatment aims to advocate a healthy lifestyle, with a certain effect of lowering blood pressure, but can not replace drugs; in addition, the vast majority of patients with hypertension through lifestyle interventions can not achieve the purpose of lowering blood pressure, but only through this way to increase the rate of lowering blood pressure patients to reach the standard. The non-pharmacological treatment of hypertension, in fact, only applies to a small number of patients with mildly elevated blood pressure. In fact, once hypertension is diagnosed, the vast majority of patients should take long-term oral antihypertensive medications and adhere to them with the support of non-pharmacological treatment. Drug therapy is the cornerstone and non-pharmacological treatment is the key. Only when the two complement each other can blood pressure be better controlled.