. 2008 Aug 20;10(8):632–639. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-7176.2008.08639.x

Table III.

Lifestyle Modifications for Control of Hypertension and/or Overall Cardiovascular Risk

• Lose weight if overweight^a

• Reduce sodium intake to <100 mmol/d (2.4 g of sodium or approximately 6 g of sodium chloride per day)^a

• Limit alcohol intake to <1 oz/d of ethanol (24 oz of beer, 10 oz of wine, or 2 oz of 80‐proof whiskey; approximately one‐half of these amounts for women and thin persons)

• Cease smoking and reduce dietary saturated fat and cholesterol intake for overall cardiovascular health; reducing fat intake also helps reduce caloric intake (important for control of weight and type 2 diabetes)

• Maintain adequate dietary potassium, calcium, and magnesium intake

• Use relaxation techniques, biofeedback

• Consume vegetarian diets, fish oil

^aThese interventions have been found to be most effective. Data on other interventions are not definitive (see text). Modified from The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure: the JNC 7 report. JAMA. 2003;289:2560–2572.