If you have hypertension, follow these steps: 1. Lose weight if you're overweight. 2. Limit your alcohol intake to no more than 24 oz of beer, 10 oz of wine or 2 oz of hard liquor per day for men and one half that amount per day for women and small, lightweight men. 3. Increase your physical activity (goal: 30 to 45 minutes of exercise four to six days per week). 4. Eat a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, grains and grain products, and low-fat or non-fat dairy foods. 5. Use only a moderate amount of salt—try not to add salt to foods and avoid eating salty foods. 6. Reduce the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet. 7. Stop smoking. 8. Get your blood pressure measured at least once every year. Your doctor will treat your hypertension with these steps: 1. First, they'll confirm your diagnosis by checking your blood pressure again to see if it's high or normal when you're resting comfortably and not doing anything that could make your blood pressure rise. 2. Next, they'll take your medical history and perform a physical exam to check for any specific causes of hypertension. 3. Then, they'll decide on your treatment plan, which will include lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and quitting smoking, as well as prescribe medication if necessary. 4. If your blood pressure is very high or you have other risk factors, your doctor may need to adjust your treatment plan. Your chances of successfully controlling your blood pressure with treatment are: 1. More than 80 different medicines are available to treat high blood pressure. 2. Over 90 percent of patients with hypertension get good results from antihypertensive medicines if they follow their doctor's instructions. 3. To increase your chances of success, work closely with your doctor, measure your blood pressure at home and keep a record, take your medication as directed, communicate openly with your doctor, schedule regular appointments, and make lifestyle changes. Follow these steps to improve your health: 1. Establish treatment goals with your doctor. 2. Involve your family in your treatment plan and help them adopt healthy habits too. 3. Measure your blood pressure at home daily. 4. Take your medication as prescribed by your doctor. 5. Discuss any concerns or progress issues with your doctor regularly. 6. Attend scheduled appointments with your doctor. By following these guidelines, you can effectively manage your hypertension and improve your overall health.