By age 50, half of all black men will have high blood pressure. About one-third of white women have high blood pressure by age 55. If your family has a history of high blood pressure, early heart disease or diabetes, your doctor will want to check your blood pressure regularly. Most doctors will encourage lifestyle changes to reduce your blood pressure first, and then start medication if your blood pressure is still high. Controlling your blood pressure can reduce your chance of heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, eye disease or stroke.
Lifestyle changes do make a difference.
A healthy lifestyle including regular aerobic exercise, maintaining a normal weight, eating a diet low in salt and moderating alcohol intake is very important to prevent and control high blood pressure. You can also help reduce your risk of heart disease by not smoking and lowering your cholesterol, if it is high. These lifestyle changes are not easy, but for many people they can lessen or eliminate the need for medication. Ask your family and friends for encouragement. Take your medication as directed.