What helps prevent hypertension?

Hypertension can often be prevented through healthful lifestyle choices. Participating in regular physical activity, maintaining a healthful weight, and choosing healthy dietary options have been shown to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of developing hypertension. Similarly, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, prompt treatment of sleep apnea, and reducing exposures to high stress conditions can also be effective.

For many people, hypertension can be managed or controlled simply by changing diet and lifestyle.

• Physical Activity: Regular exercise, preferably at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week, helps to maintain a healthy weight and can lower blood pressure.
• Weight Management: Being overweight or obese increases the risk of developing high blood pressure.
• Diet: A diet high in salt can increase the risk of developing hypertension. A general recommendation is to limit to 2,300mg/day. In some cases of hypertension, limiting dietary sodium to 2,000 mg/day may be helpful; however, in other cases, limiting sodium to 1,500 mg/day is more effective at reducing blood pressure.
• Alcohol: Drinking excessive alcohol can raise blood pressure, so avoidance or moderation is key.
• Tobacco: Tobacco use damages blood vessels and raises blood pressure, so avoiding tobacco exposure can improve overall cardiovascular health.
• Stress Management: Chronic stress may contribute to high blood pressure, so finding effective ways to manage stress can be highly beneficial.