Some people need medication to control blood pressure. But sometimes it's possible to lower blood pressure just by changing habits - losing weight, eating a healthier diet, being more active and reducing the amount of alcohol you drink. Again, by making changes to your lifestyle. If you're overweight, begin by losing some extra kilos. A low fat diet based on plenty of vegetables, fruit, bread, legumes, rice, pasta and other grains, and moderate amounts of fish, poultry, lean meat and low fat dairy products makes it easier to lose weight or to stay at a healthy weight.
Regular exercise is important for both weight loss and preventing high blood pressure generally.
Thanks to cars and labour saving gadgets, we've become used to thinking that movement is an inconvenience. But any opportunity to be active, whether it's walking to the shops, weeding the garden, doing housework or taking the strairs instead of the lift is a way of improving health. Too much salt in the diet may also contribute to high blood pressure. Don't add salt at the table and reduce the amount you use in cooking. If you're used to adding a lot of salt, try cutting down the amount you use gradually.