Three Meds Later: My Real Life Battle with High Blood Pressure

Let’s talk about something a little more serious today.

For yearrrrs I’ve had this little thorn in my side called hypertension. Yep—high blood pressure. Not the sexiest topic, but definitely one that hits home for me.

Now before anyone rushes to the comment section, yes—I know my BMI falls into the “overweight” category. And yes, I’ve been working on that (for what feels like forever lol). But even with the constant back-and-forth with my weight, I honestly believe genetics is the biggest factor here. Both of my parents have been on blood pressure meds for as long as I can remember. And if you’re African American, you probably already know that we tend to be more predisposed to hypertension—and unfortunately, it's often harder to treat.

Case in point: I’m on three different medications. THREE. Not because I want to be—but because I need them just to get my numbers in a safe zone. And I’m grateful for modern medicine, truly. But this year I decided something: I want off this merry-go-round. Or at least, I want to reduce the amount of meds I’m taking.

Here are the two main things I’m working on right now:

1. Exercise (even though I don’t love it)

Listen—I want to love exercise. I really do. But I just don’t. What I’ve come to accept is that for me, exercise can’t be about trying to become a gym girlie or finally learning to “like” cardio. It has to be about heart health. Once I made that shift mentally, things got a little easier. Because while I may not love a morning walk or workout, I love even less the idea of taking three medications a day just to maintain normal blood pressure.

So I move. Not always enthusiastically. But I move.

2. Cutting back on caffeine and sugar

Pepsi is my weakness. If you know, you know. I’ve been a loyal fan for years, but I’ve had to admit to myself that I treat Pepsi like water—and that’s a problem. My new rule? I only buy the mini cans. They're more expensive, but they help me see what I’m consuming and reduce my intake. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start. The goal is to move from “daily fix” to “occasional treat.”

I know what some of y’all are thinking: “Girl, what about salt?!” And you’re right. That’s definitely on the list. But here’s the thing—I believe in changing a few things at a time. If you try to overhaul your entire lifestyle in one week, how will you even know what’s actually working? For me, sustainable change > fast results. Every time.

I’ll keep you posted on how it goes. And if you’ve ever dealt with high blood pressure, I’d love to hear what helped you the most. We’re not in this alone. 💕