How can I reduce my risk of high blood pressure?

Am I at risk?

Factors that can raise your risk of developing high blood pressure include:

• age – the risk of developing high blood pressure increases as you get older
• a family history of high blood pressure
• ethnicity – Black African, Black Caribbean or South Asian background
• a high amount of salt in your food
• low physical activity levels
• being overweight
• regularly drinking alcohol above the recommended limits
• long-term stress
• Smoking doesn’t directly affect your blood pressure, but it does lead to cardiovascular disease.

What can I do to keep my blood pressure at a healthy level?

Making healthy lifestyle changes can help keep your blood pressure at a normal level.
These may include:

• Eating healthily – particularly eating less salt, and plenty of fruit and vegetables;
• Moving more;
• Losing weight if you are overweight;
• Drinking less alcohol;
• Trying to find time to relax and reduce stress
• Getting your blood pressure checked regularly

Don’t worry, you don’t have to do all this at once and taking small steps can make a big difference to your blood pressure and health.