The National Heart Centre shares five useful tips on treating hypertension without the help of medicine.

Annual High Blood Pressure Assessment

Your high blood pressure should be assessed by your doctor at least once a year, though more frequent consultations may be recommended in some cases. Mildly-elevated blood pressure may normalise when you lose weight, exercise more and reduce your salt intake.

Here are six things you can do to reduce your high blood pressure without resorting to medication.

1. Stick to a Healthy Diet

You can lower your blood pressure or high blood pressure by avoiding foods high in cholesterol and saturated fats such as:

• Animal fats
• Eggs
• Red meat (e.g. beef and lamb)
• Coconut milk
• Palm oil

2. Exercise Regularly

Exercise at least five times a week to lower your high blood pressure. Brisk walking is one of the best and simplest forms of exercise.

3. Watch Your Weight

It has been proven that maintaining a healthy body weight reduces the risk of high blood pressure.

4. Quit Smoking

Not only can smoking raise your blood pressure, but it’s also a risk factor for coronary artery disease and stroke.

5. Take it Easy

A healthy blood pressure can be achieved through good stress management.

• Instead, choose:
  • Lean meats
  • Fish
  • Low-fat dairy products
• Increase your intake of fruits and vegetables
• Cut back on salty foods as well

To manage stress:

• Exercise regularly
• Adopt a balanced approach to work and family life

In addition, relax whenever possible to ease the tension since stress may aggravate your blood pressure.

If these tips don't lower your high blood pressure, your doctor may put you on drug treatment, which has to be complemented by a healthy lifestyle. Treatment of hypertension for most people is lifelong.

Read more about the causes, dangers, and risk factors of high blood pressure (hypertension).

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