Reducing controllable risk factors is important for preventing
high blood pressure. In fact, lifestyle changes that affect these risk factors can not only help prevent high
blood pressure, but in those who already have the condition, these lifestyle changes can help lower blood pressure.
Some of these lifestyle changes may include:
- Losing weight
- Exercising
- Eating more vegetables, fruits, and low-fat dairy foods
- Reducing the salt in your diet
- Drinking less alcohol.
It may take three to six months before you see the full benefit of lifestyle changes. Also, adopting a healthy lifestyle does not guarantee that you will not develop high blood pressure. Unfortunately, the risk factors that you cannot control (such as age, ethnicity, and family history) will influence the chance of developing high blood pressure as well. Adopting a healthy lifestyle and reducing risk factors can (in most cases) cause your blood pressure to be less than it would be otherwise.
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