Diagnostic Guidelines for Blood Pressure Screening Techniques
Lifestyle Modification Recommendations for Patients

General nonpharmacological intervention recommendations dental professionals can discuss:

• Weight loss
• Heart-healthy diet e.g., DASH
  • Sodium reduction e.g., <1500 mg/d
  • Potassium supplementation e.g. 3500-5000 mg/d
• Increased physical activity e.g., aerobic, dynamic resistance, isometric resistance
• Moderation in alcohol intake e.g., no more than 2 drinks for men and 1 for women per day

Time restraints at dental appointments prevent in-depth counseling for patients. It is recommended doctors and their staff provide information from professional websites, such as the AHA. Their professionals link provides guidelines and statements, as well as tools such as Get with the Guidelines on Heart Failure and Stroke, Target: BP, Stroke, and Heart Failure. The AHA also has additional links to Healthy Living and Health Topics, providing educational materials for your patients.