There is much you can do to lower your blood pressure.

For example, having a healthy lifestyle lowers your risk of developing high blood pressure and helps reduce your blood pressure if you already have it. If you have high blood pressure and are taking tablets for it, then making changes to your lifestyle may help to make your medicines work more effectively.

Ways of lowering high blood pressure are:

• Cut down on your salt - adults should not eat more than 6g per day. For more, please read our Salt page
  
  Eat less coconut oil and palm oil (saturated fats). For more, please read our Fats page
• Exercise - check with your doctor first to make sure you are medically fit to do so. For more, please read our Get active page
• Cut down on, or better still, give up smoking
• Only drink alcohol in moderation. For more, please read our Alcohol page.
• It is important to be your ideal weight - you can find out what weight you should be from your GP or practice nurse.

If you are concerned about your weight your GP or practice nurse may refer you to a dietitian, who can give you information about diet programmes.

Spread the word

Spread the word to your family and everyone you know, and encourage them to know their blood pressure numbers - you may save someone's life.