What teaching is most important for a client newly diagnosed with hypertension?

Hypertension is often asymptomatic ('silent killer'); patient education is critical because behavior change drives outcomes. Key teaching: (1) DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) — emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, lean protein; limits saturated fat, total fat, sodium, sweets; demonstrated to lower BP significantly; (2) Sodium reduction — 1500-2300 mg/day; read food labels (sodium often hidden in processed foods); cooking from scratch with less salt; avoiding fast food; (3) Weight management — even 5-10 pound weight loss can significantly reduce BP; (4) Physical activity — 150 minutes moderate aerobic activity weekly; (5) Alcohol moderation — ≤1 drink/day for women, ≤2 for men; (6) Smoking cessation — smoking acutely raises BP and damages vasculature; (7) Stress management; (8) Medication: take as prescribed, even when feeling well; do not stop abruptly; report side effects to prescriber; common side effects vary by class (ACE inhibitors: cough; calcium channel blockers: edema; diuretics: increased urination, electrolyte changes; beta-blockers: fatigue, bradycardia, sexual dysfunction); (9) Home BP monitoring — accurate technique, log readings, target generally <130/80 (varies); (10) Symptoms requiring immediate attention — severe headache, vision changes, chest pain, neurological symptoms (could indicate hypertensive crisis or stroke). Long-term untreated hypertension causes stroke, MI, heart failure, kidney disease, retinopathy.