If you have elevated pressure, a family history of heart disease, or other risk factors, you may need more frequent monitoring. It's not certain that you can prevent it, but it's reasonable to think that the same practices that help control it might also prevent or postpone it. Maintain a healthy weight. Losing even a few pounds if you're overweight can reduce blood pressure. A person with high blood pressure who smokes is at serious risk.
Every cigarette raises blood pressure.
Quitting lowers it. Exercise is useful in both preventing and treating hypertension. For one thing, it can help you lose weight. It can also lower your blood pressure somewhat, though it's not understood exactly how this happens. If you are sedentary and just beginning an exercise program to combat hypertension, remember that you may not see the effects for months.