Lifestyle changes

Healthy lifestyle habits can help manage high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is high or slightly above what is considered ideal, a healthy lifestyle might prevent or reduce your need for medicine.

Try these tips:

• Eat a healthy diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products.
• Limit or do not drink alcohol. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men.
• Use less salt. Limit foods that are high in sodium.
• Manage stress.
• Stay at a healthy weight.
• Get regular exercise. Try to get 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days of the week. It's OK to break up your activity into three 10-minute sessions a day.
• Set up healthy sleeping habits so you get a good night's rest.
• Don't smoke or use tobacco. Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease. If you smoke and can't quit, talk with your healthcare team about programs or treatments that can help.