How Can High Blood Pressure Be Prevented?

If You Have Normal Blood Pressure

If you don’t have high blood pressure (HBP), you can take steps to prevent it. Lifestyle measures can help you maintain normal blood pressure.

• Follow a healthy eating plan. This includes limiting the amount of sodium (salt) and alcohol that you consume. An example of a healthy eating plan is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH).
• Lose weight if you’re overweight or obese.
• Do enough physical activity.
• Quit smoking.
• Manage your stress and learn to cope with stress

Many people who take one or more of these steps are able to prevent or delay HBP. The more steps you take, the more likely you are to lower your blood pressure and avoid related health problems.

To learn more about the above steps, see “How Is High Blood Pressure Treated?”

If You Have High Blood Pressure

If you have HBP, you can still take steps to prevent the long-term problems it can cause. Lifestyle measures (listed above) and medicines can help you live a longer, more active life.

Follow the treatment plan your doctor prescribes to control your blood pressure. It can help you prevent or delay coronary heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and other health problems.

Children and Teens

A healthy lifestyle also can help prevent HBP in children and teens. Key steps include having a child:

• Follow a healthy eating plan that focuses on plenty of fruits, vegetables, and, for children older than 4 years, low-fat dairy products. The plan also should be low in saturated and trans fats and salt.
• Be active for at least 1 to 2 hours per day. Limit screen time in front of the TV or the computer to 2 hours per day at most.
• Maintain a healthy weight. If your child is overweight, ask his or her doctor about how your child can safely lose weight.

Make these habits part of a family health plan to help your child adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle.