It also means eating as little salt as possible. Some people's blood pressure increases if they eat too much salt while other people's blood pressure is not affected very much. To be safe, limit your salt intake. Finally, proper nutrition means limiting the amount of alcohol you drink. While one or two ounces a day may help by increasing HDL, the good cholesterol , more than that may increase your blood pressure.
Regular exercise is also important.
High blood pressure is less common in those who exercise regularly and exercise can lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. Exercise may make reductions in the dose of medications possible, and sometimes make medication unnecessary. But if your blood pressure remains high despite exercise and proper nutrition, it is essential to take medication.