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Along with an active lifestyle, healthy eating is a basic tool to help manage high blood pressure (BP).

In fact, lifestyle changes, such as eating the right foods can work with your BP medicine to help you manage your high BP.

Start with the right choices. You’ve probably heard it before, but the truth is fruits, vegetables, and foods low in salt can help manage BP. Talk to your doctor about an eating plan that is right for you.

Here is a list of smart choices from the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan.*

Grains and grain products
Grains and grain products:
whole wheat breads and rolls, whole wheat pasta, English muffins, pita bread, bagels, cereals, grits, oatmeal, brown rice, unsalted pretzels, popcorn
Vegetables
Vegetables:
broccoli, carrots, collards, green beans, kale, lima beans, peas, potatoes, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes
Fruits
Fruits:
apples, apricots, bananas, dates, grapes, oranges, grapefruit, grapefruit juice, mangoes, melons, peaches, pineapples, raisins, strawberries, tangerines
Fat-free or low-fat dairy foods
Fat-free or low-fat dairy foods:
milk, buttermilk, cheese, regular or frozen yogurt
Meats, poultry, and fish
Meats, poultry, and fish:
select only lean; trim away visible fats; broil, roast, or poach; remove skin from poultry
Nuts, seeds, and dry beans
Nuts, seeds, and dry beans:
almonds, hazelnuts, mixed nuts, peanuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds, peanut butter, kidney beans, lentils, split peas
Fats and oils
Fats and oils:
soft margarine, vegetable oil (such as canola, corn, olive, or safflower), low-fat mayonnaise, light salad dressing

* Adapted from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dash.htm

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COZAAR is proven to:
  • Lower high blood pressure (BP)
    • If you have high BP, COZAAR can help relax your blood vessels and lower your BP
  • Lower the chance of stroke
    • If you have high BP and a heart problem called left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), COZAAR can reduce your chance of having a stroke. COZAAR may not help black patients lower their chance of having a stroke.
    • COZAAR is the only medicine in its class proven to lower the chance of stroke.
  • Slow the worsening of kidney disease
    • If you have type 2 diabetes with decreased kidney function and you have high BP, COZAAR can delay the development of serious kidney disease.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Do not take COZAAR if you are allergic to any of the ingredients of COZAAR. (See Patient Product Information for a complete list of ingredients.)

Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant or if you are breast-feeding, it is not known if COZAAR passes into your breast milk. You should choose either to take COZAAR or breast-feed, but not both. You should also tell your doctor if you are vomiting a lot or having a lot of diarrhea, have liver problems, or have kidney problems.

Possible serious side effects of COZAAR include injury or death to your unborn baby, allergic reaction, low blood pressure, and a worsening of kidney function in people who already have kidney problems.

COZAAR may cause the following side effects that may be serious:

  • Injury or death of unborn babies.
  • Allergic reaction. Symptoms of an allergic reaction are swelling of the face, lips, throat, or tongue. Get emergency medical help right away and stop taking COZAAR.
  • Low blood pressure (hypotension). Low blood pressure may cause you to feel faint or dizzy. Lie down if your feel faint or dizzy. Call your doctor right away.
  • For people who already have kidney problems, you may see a worsening in how well your kidneys work. Call your doctor if you get swelling in your feet, ankles, or hands, or unexplained weight gain.

The most common side effects of COZAAR in people with high blood pressure are colds (upper respiratory infection), dizziness, stuffy nose, and back pain.

The most common side effects of COZAAR in people with type 2 diabetes with diabetic kidney disease are diarrhea, tiredness, low blood sugar, chest pain, high blood potassium, and low blood pressure.

Do not take COZAAR if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. COZAAR can harm your unborn baby causing injury and even death. Stop taking COZAAR if you become pregnant and call your doctor right away.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Patient Product Information and physician Prescribing Information.

COZAAR is a registered trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Delaware, USA.

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