If you have high blood pressure, or hypertension, there are some lifestyle changes you can make that will help you control it. Here are a few tips to try:

• Eat a healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy foods. Decrease the amount of salt in your diet by paying attention to the amount of sodium in the foods you eat, especially soups and frozen meals. Don’t add extra salt to your food.
• If you quit smoking or using other tobacco products, you can help lower your blood pressure and lower your risk of heart disease and heart attack.
• Maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight, losing as few as five pounds has been shown to help lower blood pressure. Getting regular exercise can also help keep your blood pressure under control. Try to get 30 minutes of activity or exercise each day.
• Reduce stress as much as possible. Increased stress can cause blood pressure to be higher than usual.

Having your blood pressure checked regularly by your doctor or a nurse can help you keep it under control. It’s also possible for you to monitor your own blood pressure at home.

Hypertension is a condition that needs to be managed. Talk to your doctor about what measures will work best for you.