Blood pressure medication: Can I stop taking it if I lose weight?

Can weight loss reduce or eliminate the need for blood pressure medications?

- Sharolyn / North Dakota

Answer

Yes. If you have high blood pressure, losing weight — even just 10 pounds — can significantly reduce your blood pressure. As a result, it may be possible to taper down and even stop taking blood pressure medications — but only under the supervision of your doctor.

Even without weight gain, the risk of high blood pressure increases with age. So it's still important to regularly check your blood pressure and follow a healthy lifestyle.

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