Control BP through lifestyle

The bass-baritone voice of Barry White can raise your blood pressure, but his heart and kidneys paid a price. He tipped the scale at 375 pounds and died in 2002 from kidney failure related to high blood pressure.

Now a new lab study on mice, published in JCI Insight, reveals that there’s a connection between the long-term use of ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers to control high blood pressure and hardened kidney vessels — which can cause permanent kidney damage. And even though it’s an animal study, it makes you think about the benefits of using nonpharmacological interventions to lower elevated blood pressure.

A major paper in the journal Hypertension in 2017 laid out the most science-based lifestyle approaches to managing high blood pressure — “especially for prevention of hypertension, including in adults with elevated BP, and for management of high BP in adults with milder forms of hypertension.” They are: — Losing weight

— Following the DASH diet and reduced sodium intake

— Taking potassium supplements (ask your doc)

— Exercising weekly: 90-150 minutes of aerobics at 65%-75% of your maximum heart rate and 90-150 minutes of low-impact, high-intensity muscle training along with isometric resistance exercises — using a hand grip.

— Limiting alcohol intake to two servings a day for men and one for women.

If lifestyle intervention doesn’t do the trick and your doctor recommends medication to lower your blood pressure and protect your heart and brain, take it! Simply make sure you monitor your kidney function and heart carefully so you can protect both organ systems safely and effectively.

Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. His next book is “The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow.” Do you have a topic Dr. Mike should cover in a future column? If so, please email questions@ GreatAgeReboot.com.